Since its inception in 2021, the Flagler County Village has helped more than 1,360 people thanks to support from AdventHealth Palm Coast and the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation. Operated by Flagler Cares, the Flagler County Village serves as a hub for community organizations to provide extensive services in a single location to those in need. Since 2021, AdventHealth has contributed some $50,000 to Flagler Cares to help operate the Village.
“AdventHealth has partnered with Flagler Cares since the very beginning on a variety of projects,” said Carrie Baird, chief executive officer of Flagler Cares and One Voice for Volusia. “As one of the main organizations we look to when trying to implement these strategies, AdventHealth is always at the table when identifying and planning how to address community health issues and bring social change. It’s critical that we continue to partner.”
Flagler County residents benefit from a wide range of resources including assistance with identification documents; financial counseling; homelessness prevention support; rapid rehousing; behavioral health navigation; access to early learning programs and voluntary pre-K; mental health counseling; and more.
“AdventHealth is honored to support the mission of the Flagler County Village,” said Denyse Bales-Chubb, market CEO for AdventHealth’s Flagler and St. Johns market. “We treat many of our Flagler County neighbors who need social services. This ‘one-stop-shop’ makes it easier to connect residents with the services they need and has helped us address the health needs of our community – body, mind and spirit.”
Among those served by the Flagler County Village have been 78 direct referrals from AdventHealth, helping those who qualify to apply for disability assistance through their SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program.
Through the partnership with AdventHealth, Flagler Cares launched LINC Flagler Volusia, a multi-agency data system that enables trusted providers to send referrals to a network of other service providers on behalf of individuals seeking assistance. Over 30 organizations in Flagler and Volusia counties are a part of the system.
“We are a jack-of-all-trades,” said Baird. “We have a ‘no-wrong-door’ approach, so no matter who walks through our door we can help them figure out how to piece together enough resources to become stable, healthy, happy and productive citizens. We’re able to break those silos and be exactly what someone needs.”
Starting this month, the Village is adding recovery services and outreach as part of their Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORe) initiative due to an increasing need to address substance abuse in the county. With additional funding from the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County, Flagler County CORe consists of a team of local agencies, including Flagler Cares, Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services (OARS), Outreach Community Care Network and Flagler County Fire Rescue, committed to helping those struggling with opioid use disorder. The team includes peer support specialists, community paramedics, care coordination staff, counselors and medication assisted treatment providers.
Community organizations providing services include, Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia, Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, The House Next Door, Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, Department of Children and Families Hope Florida and EPIC Behavioral Healthcare.
The Village is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and is located at City Marketplace, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B302 in Palm Coast. More information about the Village and partners can be found at www.flaglercountyvillage.org.