Flagler County Receives Mental Health Grant

Governor Crist and George Sheldon

Flagler County Administration received the good news from the State Department of Children and Families that a grant in the amount of of $455,295 was made available to the County over a three year period for a mental health support program.

The grant is to establish a Mental Health Support Service Program that will focus on diverting those with mental illness disorders to treatment instead of the criminal justice system. It includes mental health assessment support for adults in the county so deputies do not have to transport to Volusia County.

The program will be established in conjunction with Stewart Marchman – Act Behavioral Healthcare, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department and Haven Recovery Center.

George Sheldon, Secretary of the State Department of Children and Families wrote this in a letter to Flagler County:

“ We appreciate your communities’ commitment to increasing public safety, averting increased spending on criminal justice and juvenile justice services.  Together we can help improve the lives of children and adults with substance abuse and mental health needs as well as improve the safety of our communities.”

The grant was only available to counties that were awarded and completed a previous assessment grant in 2007 and Flagler County was one of the counties that qualified.

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