$100,000 donation will fully fund Sarasota's mental health court through 2023

After learning about the public funding shortfall for the Sarasota County Comprehensive Treatment Court this year, developer and attorney Hugh Culverhouse Jr. has contributed $100,000 to ensure the 2023 program is fully funded.

CTC is a mental health diversion program implemented in the local courts that helps move individuals who commit nonviolent offenses suffering from mental health disorders out of the jails and into treatment programs.

“When I saw the dramatic impact this program is making and heard that the public funding fell short, I wanted to do more,” said Culverhouse, CEO and owner of Palmer Ranch Holdings, in a news release. “Supporting mental health initiatives helps de-stigmatize mental health issues and provides critical resources for individuals struggling with mental illnesses, leading to healthier and more resilient communities.”

The contribution follows recent donations from Culverhouse and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Earlier this year, each contributed $50,000 to the program. Since CTC’s inception, funding has been secured from grants awarded by Florida’s Department of Children and Families, Sarasota County, the city of Sarasota, local foundations and the private sector.

Sarasota County Judge Erika Quartermaine founded the CTC in 2017 after presiding over cases involving the same defendants repeatedly arrested for nonviolent offenses. The program is modeled after a Miami-Dade County and is a collaboration of the courts, law enforcement agencies and social service organizations.