Avita asks Stephens County for $15,000 in opioid settlement funds to help open an 11‑bed residential program

Michael Faust, chief creative officer of Avita Community Partners, asked Stephens County to contribute $15,000 from local opioid settlement funds toward renovations and licensure for an 11‑bed residential substance‑use program in Flowery Branch, saying the program would include intensive outpatient treatment and a certified peer specialist on site.

Faust said the program received roughly $345,000 in a grant but that grant did not cover full renovation costs. He described Avita’s regional work across 13 counties, the organization’s jail‑and‑reach pilot, and data showing benefits when people receive treatment. He said six counties had committed funding so far and that bed assignment priorities would need to be negotiated among participating counties; he also said the site might be able to be squeezed to 13 beds but emphasized a first‑come, first‑served approach.

Commissioners questioned whether a site in Flowery Branch—on the southern edge of the region—would serve Stephens County residents effectively and noted transportation and access barriers. Avita representatives acknowledged those concerns and said licensure and renovation could take a year or longer. Commissioners expressed support for local services and asked staff to continue discussions; no board funding commitment was recorded at this meeting.