Christine Cauffield

With 70 employees, LSF Health Systems is a nonprofit serving a 23-county region through 85 behavioral health care organizations throughout North Central and Northeast Florida. It provides mental health and substance abuse services through a contract with the Florida Department of Children and Families to ensure access to care for people who are uninsured or underinsured. The system serves about 150,000 clients a year. Cauffield has served as president of the Florida Council on Aging and on a panel advising the White House on drug control policy.

EDUCATION: University of Central Florida (BS), Georgia State University (MS), Florida Tech University (Psy.D.)

MENTOR: Senator Darryl Rouson has been such an inspiration to me. He is a champion for those living with behavioral health disorders, and he has the courage to freely share his own personal history with addiction in order to provide hope to others.

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: I would continue to emphasize the importance of increased access and funding for behavioral health care services for Floridians. Those most at risk include our youth and our seniors, and prevention and early intervention services have proven to be effective in reducing risks for future crises.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“Collaboration and innovation are key! The more partnerships you can develop, the more successful your organization will be.”

CEO, LSF Health Systems, Jacksonville