- November 7, 2024
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Carrie Baird is working with Flagler Cares. Photo by Jacque Estes
Carrie Baird received a call from Patrick Johnson, the former director of the Florida Department of Health in Flagler, to help with Flagler Cares. The group, formed by Barbara Revels, Ken Matison, and Johnson, is designed to help build a coordinated system of social, financial and health services for people in the county in need.
Baird began One Voice for Volusia, where she was Executive Director for 12 years, so when Johnson called with another project, she was more than willing to help.
“I had been working with this group, and they wanted someone to facilitate two planning meetings,” Baird said. “I have been working with them ever since.”
During her time at One Voice for Volusia, Baird said she participated in a variety of special projects and consulting, and describes herself as a generalist in human services. She continues to do consulting for them, and other organizations, across the state.
Flagler Cares formed their board of directors last summer, with seven members from key organizations, including the sheriff’s office, schools, hospital, and health department.
“It’s important to have all of the pieces and parts, in the health and human services divisions, come together so people in need don’t fall through the cracks,” Baird said.
Baird is focused on what she wants the organization to accomplish.
“My goal is to ignite action in certain areas -- adult and youth behavioral health, mental health, substance abuse issues, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, issues related to moms and young children under 5, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect.”
Then there is the homeless issue. Flagler is part of the Continuum of Care, a HUD regional structure in the country, with Volusia County, and Baird is making sure Flagler’s needs are heard and met concerning affordable housing, living wages and support for the working poor.
“In our country there are a lot of resources for the very, very, very poor, but the working poor are often not eligible for these resources, and they, with a little help, could make it,” she said. “Families with children under 5 have a higher level of poverty and usually, if you can help them through until the kids enter school, then they’re OK.
In 2017 Baird said the organization will be updating their website, and hopefully applying for $400K grant to bolster the mental health services for children. She said Flagler Cares is looking for strong partners who already have the capacity, and new funding to bring to the community.
“Anything from a government agency, that has a role in health and human services, to a pastor who has concerns for a parishioner. We don’t provide direct services , our customers are the agencies that are serving people, trying to make sure that they can connect with each other.”
She knows homelessness is not a topic a community wants to admit they have, but she feels ultimately there will be a persistent and growing issue if affordable housing is not available.
“I would like to see the city and county governments get engaged in working together on that,” she said.
Suicide prevention is another facet Baird is hoping the organization can explore with assistance from the community.
“If you look at the suicide numbers, we have this anomaly in the 18-25 year old range,” Baird said. “Typically it is white men, 35- to 65-years. We are going to work on a set of strategies to try and work on that. A large percentage of people who successfully committed suicide were at a mental health or doctor in the previous six months.”
The goal is to ensure individuals at risk can be accurately identified and receive proper services.
The smaller size of Flagler County is appealing to Baird.
“Working in a community the size of Volusia is challenging, and it’s hard to make a difference,” Baird said. “That’s what is so exciting about Flagler, because really you see possibility of actually making a difference.”
