Parents in the Palm Beaches are finding out that if their young child has a psychiatric episode, there will be traveling involved.
The only hospital in the area that had accepted Baker Act patients under the age of twelve was JFK North in West Palm Beach, but that stopped last month.
The HCA Florida facility says it needs those beds for teens, who more commonly need the services.
But Baker Act attorney Mark Astor tells CBS 12 an already bad situation could be worsened by a long trip for care.
"The child's going to be taking a 45 minute or one hour ride in the patrol car, potentially handcuffed as if they're a criminal. And so it's not a big stretch of the imagination to understand what that's going to do to the child."
The Palm Beach County School District says its police officers transported 20 kids under 12 for Baker Act evaluations last year, while another 170 were transported by other agencies across the county.
The nearest facilities for young children to get these services are in Broward to the south and St. Lucie to the north. And even one in St. Lucie will be cutting the service soon.
Starting January 1st, Lawnwood Hospital in St. Lucie County will no longer accept anyone under 18 for inpatient care.
Here are some hospitals in the region that will take people under 18 (some under 12) that are brought in as part of the Baker Act:
Memorial Regional Hospital (Broward County) - Serves all ages, with 12 licensed beds for children.
Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center (Broward County) - Focuses on ages 10 and up, with 44 licensed beds.
Coral Shores Behavioral Health (Martin County) - Serves ages 12-17, with 16 licensed beds.
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital (Indian River County) - Offers care for ages 5-17, with 12 licensed beds.
New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee (St. Lucie County) - Treats ages 5-17, with 20 licensed beds.