Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare has been awarded $4 million in funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This funding is aimed at community behavioral health systems that provide comprehensive, coordinated health care – and Starting Point has qualified.

Using this 4-year grant, Starting Point will be able to provide community services that incorporate primary health screening and monitoring for individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, opioid use disorders, multiple disorders and youth with serious emotional disturbance.

“This time last year, we were awarded another grant from the administration,” said Laureen Pagel, CEO at Starting Point. “That initial round of funding enabled us to identify a new facility in Fernandina Beach, offer mobile behavioral health services and provide over 25 new jobs to the residents of Nassau County. This second round of funding will expand on this by increasing access to care with a particular focus on groups facing health issues and living in low-income areas. We are delighted to be chosen for this opportunity and look forward to elevating our service offerings to the residents of Nassau County.”

The organization will establish the first federally-certified clinic in Nassau County by accomplishing the following goals:

1. Improve behavioral healthcare for people across their lifespans through a model that incorporates a full continuum of services.
2. Provide access to high-quality mental health and substance use to the target population in Nassau County, with particular focus on groups facing health issues.
3. Create an advisory committee, with a minimum of 51% persons in recovery, to coordinate treatment,
4. Establish a positive recovery community in Northeast Florida that involves consumers and family members in their own care.
5. Strengthen and sustain the infrastructure necessary to continue to uphold the model beyond this period of grant funding.
6. Develop a plan for staffing, training, and delivery of all required services, including care coordination, language accessibility, and use of evidence-based practices.

About Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare:

The clinic provides treatment to children, teens and adults in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The non-profit agency serves more than 3,000 people each year and has been serving the region for more than 30 years. For more information, please visit www.spbh.org.