FLEMING ISLAND – To support the needs of people struggling with the trials of drug addiction and mental health, many local organizations have big project plans in the works. 

The Clay Substance Use Disorder meeting occurred on July 17 in the DOH-Clay Assembly room. 

From new mentorship programs and transportation services to potential in-jail counseling and health insurance assistance, the meeting fostered much discussion on how viable and practical these potential projects could be for the county. 

Many organization leaders and representatives met at a roundtable to listen to presentations, brainstorm changes or additions to the projects, and vote on them.

Each presentation was limited to about five minutes, followed by a Q&A for anyone with questions.

Each vote was then tallied and sent to a scoring committee established by the Board of County Commissioners.  

The projects will be ranked on a funding-based priority.

The new projects are as follows:

• Zero Hour Life Center is looking to develop a recovery community organization (RCO) for the county. With this project, they said they hope to increase community awareness and involvement by providing several symposiums and meetings for residents leading up to the RCO’s formation. They said the community will build the organization from the ground up, and they will work to assist. They are projecting an estimated budget of $25,000.

• CORE is looking to keep its recovery program going in the county. This will help to continue with peer support specialists and the treatment aspect. They are projecting an estimated budget request of $375,000.

• Exchange Club Family Center is looking to develop a county parent-aide program to assist parents in recovering from addiction. The program will help them learn the necessary skills to provide for their children. It is projecting an estimated budget of $150,000.

• Operation Barnabas is looking to develop a mentorship program to assist first responders and veterans suffering from substance addiction and suicide. They are projecting an estimated budget of $150,000.

• The New Season Treatment Center in Orange Park is looking to implement a "Ride to Recovery" program, assisting in transportation services for patients suffering from opioid use disorder. They said they plan to partner with Uber Health for this venture.  During the meeting, there was also some discussion about the center utilizing the county's bus voucher and bike system. They ultimately had an estimated budget of $150,000.

The center is also looking to implement "Hope Clay," an initiative to assist patients in Clay County without health insurance in affording medication using medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

• The Clay County Sheriff's Office is looking to implement the use of Vivitrol shots and counseling for inmates while in jail. Vivitrol is a medicine used to treat alcohol and opioid disorders. The initiative claims that inmates will receive at least five months of shots and counseling while incarcerated. The project is estimated to cost $300,000.