Ms. Bennink is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addictions Professional, and Registered Art Therapist, having received her Master’s degree from the Florida State University in 2000. She serves as the Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where she assists in the coordination and oversight of mental health and substance abuse services in all areas of the Department, providing technical assistance to department staff and providers. She serves as a technical expert in mental health and substance abuse services with a focus on juvenile detention services and is a member of multiple state councils/workgroups. Ms. Bennink previously served as a counselor and Clinical Director for over 16 years in a variety of juvenile justice settings including prevention, probation, detention, and residential commitment programs. She served as Clinical Director for an outpatient therapy clinic for several years that served a public school system and the community and has been a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer.