- May 3, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The former county library building on State Road 100 near its intersection with U.S. 1 in Bunnell will become a mental health care drop-in facility called the Flagler Access Center, operated by SMA Healthcare and Flagler Health+/Care Connect.
The 4,943-square-foot building at 103 E. Moody Blvd. will be open for regular services 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a crisis triage and treatment unit onsite from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and noon to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
A separate, on-call crisis response team will be available 24/7, 365 days a year.
In the first phase of the center's two-phase opening, it will offer Baker Act transport and screening; care coordination linking clients to other mental health, substance abuse, housing and employment services; and a housing assistance program serving homeless people.
Flagler Health+/Care Connect will also provide services for youths through a program called "BRAVE," for "Be Resilient and Voice Your Emotions."
The second phase will add three therapists for adult and youth mental health and substance abuse therapy. Those services will be provided at an SMA facility at 301 Justice Lane until the new Flagler Access Center obtains licensure to provide them.
The county government is using American Rescue Plan Act money to fund the building's conversion. County commissioners on Nov. 15 approved an agreement with SMA that will let SMA use the county-owned building. The agreement was part of the Nov. 15 meeting's consent agenda.
SMA will be paid for its services through a state grant administered by Lutheran Services of Florida.
The agreement will be for one year, but renew automatically each year unless the county or SMA opts to terminate it.
