New SMA behavioral-health center in Bunnell will offer 24/7 walk-in stabilization, county says

County and SMA Healthcare officials on Tuesday outlined a new behavioral-health center in Bunnell that they said will provide around-the-clock psychiatric and substance-use stabilization for Flagler County residents.

Tory Gentilly, vice president of community engagement at SMA Healthcare, said the 23,000-square-foot central receiving facility is funded with $10 million in state appropriations secured by lawmakers, a county-donated parcel valued at about $1.2 million and $4 million from SMA. "This facility really is the product of a collaborative effort between Flagler County, the BOCC, the state of Florida and SMA Healthcare," Gentilly said.

Gentilly said the site on Old Haw Creek Road will include a 20-bed integrated stabilization unit (ISU) designed to serve people with co-occurring mental-health and substance-use conditions, divided into lower- and higher-acuity subunits, plus a 28‑bed men's residential program intended as a six-month treatment continuum. "You can walk into this facility 24/7. There's never going to be a charge for a triage," Gentilly said, adding the center will accept voluntary and involuntary transfers from hospitals and offer a 24/7 free helpline and mobile crisis response team.

In a brief question-and-answer period, a resident asked whether medication-assisted treatment (MAT) will be offered; Gentilly confirmed psychiatric stabilization with medication and MAT will be available and integrated into follow-up outpatient care. Gentilly also reiterated an expected completion timeline of mid-November.

County officials who spoke at the town hall described the project as the local implementation of a multi-cycle community health needs assessment and improvement planning process that repeatedly identified behavioral health access as a priority. The county contributed land for the project and assisted in securing state funding, officials said.

The project is built around a triage-first model that staff said aims to reduce transfers out of county for emergency behavioral-health care. Officials emphasized that the triage and helpline will be free and available to all ages.

Next steps: county and SMA representatives said they will continue outreach as the facility finishes construction and staff recruitment, with an expected public opening around mid-November. For crisis resources and information about services, speakers directed residents to the SMA helpline and local outreach channels. "We're honored to be a part of this county," Gentilly said.

Ending: County leaders thanked SMA for its partnership and invited residents to learn more about the center once it opens.