SMA Behavioral Healthcare Breaks Ground on Dr. James E. Huger Adolescent Campus Project

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Sept. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- Stewart-Marchman-Act (SMA) Behavioral Healthcare and the SMA Foundation broke ground last week on Phase I of its new Dr. James E. Huger Adolescent Campus Project with a special hard hat and groundbreaking ceremony. Phase I of the project will include a dining area and a residence area for BEACH House clients, as well as an outdoor recreation area and ropes course. The scheduled renovations will also bring SMA's BEACH House and RAP onto the same site, and will benefit area families by enabling children to stay close to home for individualized treatment and recovery needs. It's designed to provide comfort and healing for troubled youth in the Volusia County community, including the poor and uninsured.

The Dr. James E. Huger Adolescent Campus Project Hard Hat & Groundbreaking Ceremony was held September 14 at the campus' location at 3875 Tiger Bay Rd, Daytona Beach, Fla. There were approximately 50 attendees, including Matt Hall, Vice President of Hall Construction, the construction company doing the work on the project. Matt arranged for a front-end loader to assist with the ground breaking as well as the traditional 'golden shovels'. Construction is scheduled to start September 26^th, and scheduled to be complete by the summer of 2017.

The event included tours of the current campus, a testimonial from a mother whose daughter has utilized the adolescent program services, and a brief talk from SMA Foundation Director Jennifer Secor, and SMA CEO Ivan Cosimi, as well as light hors d'oeuvres. Attendees also viewed renderings of the future campus.

"Currently, SMA's BEACH House and RAP facilities are outdated and in desperate need of repair," said Foundation Director Jennifer Secor," "We want to bring a sense of normalcy to these teens who oftentimes live without rules and are allowed to roam the streets until they get into trouble - they crave discipline, structure and order and the feeling that someone in authority actually cares about them," she added.

The foundation has raised $430,000 to date and needs $70,000 more to complete the project. Phase II of the project will include a state of the art technology-infused classrooms, an administrative area, and the family visitation areas will be remodeled.

BEACH House is a shelter that provides short-term respite for youth ages 10-17 who are truant, ungovernable or runaway/homeless.  The program provides youth with shelter, meals, individual and group counseling, educational groups and family therapy, with a goal of family reunification and assisting the family in building communication skills and relationships. The new campus will allow for eight more clients, bringing the total beds to 28.

The Residential Adolescent Program (RAP) is a substance abuse treatment program serving substance dependent youth ages 13-17, utilizing individual, group and family interventions. The average length of stay is 4-6 months. The proven principles of AA/NA are the foundation for the clinical program.  Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an important ingredient in treatment, along with positive peer culture, reality therapy, outdoor therapeutic model, experiential learning theory, and behavior modification systems. The program is co-occurring capable, staffed by licensed and certified therapists, nurses, and youth specialists.

More information about the Dr. James E. Huger Adolescent Campus Project as well as the SMA Foundation can be found online at http://www.smafoundation.com/, or https://www.facebook.com/StewartMarchmanActFoundation.

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Pictured L to R: Jennifer Secor-SMA Foundation Director, Rhonda Harvey-SMA COO, Howard Stange-SMA Foundation board member, Heather Prince Smith- SMA Director of Adolescent Services Residential Division, Ivan Cosimi-SMA CEO, Melissa Beth Murphy-SMA Foundation Chairperson.

About Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation

Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation and is eligible for tax-exempt contributions by the US Internal Revenue Service. They accept cash donations, stocks and securities, as well as land and property. They can be found online at http://www.smafoundation.com or reached via telephone at 386-254-1136.

Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation was founded by Jim Foster at the request of Hal Marchman in 1997. The volunteer board of directors is comprised of leading professionals, business leaders, and citizens from the Volusia/Flagler area. The Foundation's sole mission is to build resources, public awareness, and research to support the programs of Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, the leading non-profit behavioral healthcare organization in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia Counties.

About SMA Behavioral

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years.  SMA provides more than 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to diverse client populations Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare's mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. SMA's vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all. Contact SMA at 800-539-4228 or online at http://www.smabehavioral.org/ or stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SMABehavioralHealthServices.