GREEN COVE SPRINGS – County commissioners heard a presentation for a proposed detoxification and recovery center for residents, allocated $3 million of the $8 million for monies from the 2023 legislative session for Clay County. 

There are two facilities in Northeast Florida – EPIC Behavioral Healthcare in St. Augustine and Gateway Community Services in Jacksonville.

Victoria Hapner, Projects Coordinator for the county, said Clay is currently seeking to build a location at the Clay County Health Department and tax collector’s office at 3229 Bear Run Blvd. in Orange Park.

“I think that this is a need, and I don’t think we want to have to outsource (the facility) to other counties, and it’s centrally located to where I think a lot of folks using it would (be),” Commissioner Alexandra Compere added. 

Hapner said the facility’s sign would be smaller than what is currently utilized by the County Health Department.

“It’s something that’s labeled as necessary, especially for emergency needs, but it’s not highly advertised,” she said. 

The Phase 1 portion would be to convert the old tax collector’s building into office space for group meetings and counseling. It would also house Clay Behavioral and Community Paramedicine. The start could be immediate, as that facility is currently vacant. 

Phase 2 includes converting the Health Department Clinic into a detoxification and recovery center, with an initial goal of 10 beds and six recovery beds. That design could start immediately, but construction would have to be delayed until the facility is vacated. 

The Clay Behavioral Health Center’s office in Middleburg would continue operations. According to Betsy Condon, 60% of overdose deaths occur within two miles of the intersection of County Road 218 and State Road 21 in Middleburg.

Tyler Nolan, LEPC Coordinator and Emergency Preparedness Planner for the Northeast Florida Regional Council, said a community-based Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis was submitted for Substance Use Disorder.

Now, after one year’s worth of quarterly meetings, monies can be allocated to a prioritized project list as long as they are not duplicated. The project list was also scored, according to Nolan.