BUNNELL – SMA Healthcare celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Flagler County Central Receiving Facility on Tuesday, November 18 in Bunnell. This brand new, state-of-the-art facility will be conveniently situated next to the Vince Carter Sanctuary, which is home to the women’s residential program (WARM) and outpatient services. The estimated completion of this project is November 2026.

“This new central receiving facility is going to bring a transformative level of care to individuals and families in Flagler County,” said SMA Healthcare CEO Ivan Cosimi. “Residents of Flagler will no longer have to leave the county to receive services, and its proximity to our other locations will further enhance the continuum of care.”

This 23,600 square foot facility was brought

forth by a $10 million legislative appropriation from Flagler County. Below is a breakdown of what services will be offered in this new facility:

  • Integrated Stabilization Unit (ISU) – this is a short-term inpatient unit for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use crises. There will be 20 ISU beds available. 

  • Men’s Residential Program – Long-term residential program for adult men with a substance use and/or mental health disorders. There will be 28 residential beds available. 

The architect for this project is Dana M. Smith with DJ Design Services, and construction is being completed by Auld & White Construction. Interior Design is being done by HDB Design Group, LLC, and the Civil Engineer is Zev Cohen & Associates.

Flagler County is in the top five of fastest-growing counties in Florida, with a projected population of more than 170,000 by 2030, so the need for this facility is increasing rapidly. More than 4,000 residents of Flagler County have been placed under a Baker Act in the last five years, which is twice the state average. Additionally, the overdose rate over the last five years in Flagler County is 20% more than the state average.

This new facility will quickly make an impact in Flagler County. Law enforcement transfers will be under 15 minutes, and the new facility will provide a reduction in Baker Acts. Further, connection will be made with aftercare within 7 days of discharge. The cost of a day in an ISU is less than $500, compared to $1,200 or more for a day in a hospital for psychiatric care.

The SMA Healthcare Foundation has committed to raising $5 million, over the next few years, to help complete this vital new facility and sustain its life-changing programs. For more information about the project, or to make a donation, please contact Melissa Gabriel, Donor Relations Manager at the SMA Healthcare Foundation, at (386) 301-2253.

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