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SMA Healthcare outlines local behavioral‑health and reentry services, seeks partnership and county funding
Summary
Regional behavioral-health provider SMA Healthcare presented an overview of services, a history of local programs and a proposal for expanded capacity in Putnam County, including a proposed 15‑bed residential reentry program tied to the jail and plans for local primary care expansion.
SMA Healthcare told the commission it has provided mental‑health and substance‑use services in the region since the 1960s and is seeking partnership and funding from local government to expand Putnam County services.
Nancy Russo, regional vice president for SMA Healthcare, described the organization’s continuum of care across six counties and said current funding primarily comes from the Department of Children and Families and county grants. She said past residential programs were closed because clients often came from outside Putnam County and the service did not represent appropriate use of local funds. Russo said SMA is pursuing legislative and county funding to reopen a 15‑bed residential program that would include reentry services in coordination with the jail.
Russo also described a nascent primary‑care program in Palatka that focuses on perinatal and postpartum care for women with substance‑exposure risk and noted plans to expand psychiatric capacity and an on‑site pharmacy to make medications more affordable for patients without insurance.
Commissioners asked for Putnam‑specific utilization statistics; Russo said county numbers are available in an impact report and that she would supply Palatka‑specific breakdowns on request. She also said SMA operates a “no‑wrong‑door” policy intended to link residents to the continuum of care regardless of ability to pay.
Ending: Commissioners thanked SMA for the overview. Staff and commissioners asked SMA to provide a Putnam‑specific utilization breakdown and any formal county funding requests for future budget consideration.
