Starting Point, exteriorNORTHEAST REGION
7 FCLF LOANS totaling $4.5 million
Acquisition, rehabilitation, and hurricane recovery loans
4 locations offering healthcare services & administrative offices totaling 26,000 sq ft


"Healing begins here." This is the mission of Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare, located in Northeast Florida.

Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare is a nonprofit agency providing psychiatric treatment, mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment. The organization has been serving Nassau County and the surrounding communities since 1992 and their goal is to provide a coordinated approach to care that meets the individual needs of the client and addresses the total behavioral health needs of the community. Through collaborative efforts with other healthcare providers, they have created a robust treatment approach that includes private clinicians, family service agencies, the legal system, schools, clergy and hospitals.

The team includes board-certified Psychiatrists, Psychiatric APRNs, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Masters Level Certified Addiction Professionals, Certified Behavioral Health Targeted Case Managers, Certified Prevention Professionals, and Certified Peer Specialists, all supported by financial and administrative staff.

Starting Point offers services at the main office on SR 200 in Yulee, as well as centers in Hilliard, Fernandina Beach, and Callahan. They also provide on-site services at Family Support Services, Department of Children and Families, Nassau County Detention Center, Juvenile Court, Mental Health Court, Nassau County public and private schools and in homes. More than 80% of Starting Point clients are low-income.

With financing from Florida Community Loan Fund, Starting Point purchased the building which houses the organization’s administrative offices and an outpatient clinic which they previously leased. The savings generated from acquisition of the building allowed Starting Point to serve 3,000 clients annually.

A second FCLF loan helped Starting Point purchase a building in Fernandina Beach and relocate a drop-in center that provides mental health services to very low and low-income residents. This location also includes unimproved land that can be used for a community garden, which is part of Starting Point’s social rehab program. Subsequent FCLF loans have helped repair damages that were caused by Hurricane Irma, and rehabilitate the Starting Point facility in Hilliard, Florida.

Additional financing from Florida Community Loan Fund allowed Starting Point to purchase vacant land for construction of a new addition to the certified community behavioral health clinic in Fernandina Beach, which will reach an additional estimated 750 clients annually, the majority of whom are low-, very-low, and extremely-low income individuals.

View more photos of Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare on FCLF's Flickr Page.

For more information, visit www.spbh.org.

Pictured above, Starting Point Behavioral Health original location in Yulee, Florida. Below, architectural rendering of new Fernandina Beach location.

Starting Point BH rendering 2025

view more button 2023

Core Purpose FCLF exists to maximize opportunities for people and places outside of the economic mainstream.
Our Vision Opportunity and dignity exist for every person and community in Florida.
Our Mission Our expertise and capital make projects successful and help organizations improve lives and communities.

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