SMA Healthcare, a substance abuse, mental health and behavioral health system that operates in Volusia, Flagler, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns and Citrus counties, has broken ground for an outpatient services building, located at 1251 N. Stone St. in DeLand.
The new facility will complement the existing inpatient, residential facility that is currently located at the same address, by providing outpatient services that West Volusia residents have previously needed to travel out of Volusia County for.
“With the increased access to behavioral health resources, clients will be able to receive mental health outpatient services, substance use treatment, and a variety of other services in a centralized location,” an SMA Healthcare press release reads.
Some of the services that will be available to those seeking mental health and substance use care will include walk-in screenings, mental health and substance use counseling, psychiatric medication management, primary care, a pharmacy, as well as a research department.
According to SMA Healthcare, this facility will expand services for more than 3,600 clients living in the West Volusia area, and the facility will generate more than 70 full-time positions at the Stone Street location.
A groundbreaking ceremony was hosted May 21, and the event saw SMA administrators and health care workers, DeLand city and Volusia County officials, and community members come together to celebrate the occasion of expanding mental health services in West Volusia.
Speakers included Ivan Cosimi, CEO of SMA Healthcare; Janet Knauff, CEO of the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce; Matthew Maniscalco, president of the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce; Jim Rose, SMA Board chair; and Jennifer Secor, executive director of SMA Healthcare Foundation.
Cosimi addressed the hope and expectation of serving patients at the new location within the span of one year.
“Our mission states that we are an organization that is transforming lives through exceptional substance abuse, mental health, and primary care services … It’s here where SMA can truly fulfill our vision, which is a community where all have access to health care services needed to find hope, healing, and recovery,” Cosimi said. “It is here, where in just one year’s time — hopefully — we’ll be able to get the care to those who need our services, all under one roof.”
