ColdFusion.navigate Javascript does not work.

example this works if i run this page, however if i was to load this into one of my cflayout areas using
javaScript:ColdFusion.navigate('includes/departments-new.cfm','center') 
it stops working, "javascript function textCounter not found"
 
<!---Function to Count and Limit Characters --->
<SCRIPT>
function textCounter(field,cntfield,maxlimit) {
if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
// otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
else
cntfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}
</script>
 
<form name="myForm" action="" method="post">
<textarea name="message1" wrap="physical" cols="28" rows="5"
onKeyDown="textCounter(document.myForm.message1,document.myForm.remLen1,125)"
onKeyUp="textCounter(document.myForm.message1,document.myForm.remLen1,125)"></textarea>
<br>
<input readonly type="text" name="remLen1" size="3" maxlength="3" value="125">
characters left
<input type="Submit" name="Submit" value="Submit">
<br>
</form>