History & Mission

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Flagler Cares started as an informal coalition of health and human service professionals in 2013 with a goal of sharing information among members. In 2015 the first Board of Directors was elected, and Flagler Cares became a nonprofit corporation. Since that time, Flagler Cares has continued to expand its impact.

In 2020, Flagler Cares was able to quickly scale up operations to partner with United Way, Volusia Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless, and the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to provide services and supports to Flagler families negatively impacted by COVID-19.

In July 2022, Flagler Cares announced a bold new initiative to benefit the residents of Flagler County that included a significant investment of funding and capacity building work made possible by a generous endowment from Dr. Stephen Bickel, a founding board member of Flagler Cares. That endowment has been leveraged to expand the capacity of Flagler Cares and support key partners in the community.

In July 2024, Flagler Cares and One Voice for Volusia merged into one corporate structure under Flagler Cares to build capacity and continue our commitment to addressing community challenges. Flagler Cares will remain committed to providing social safety net, behavioral health and outpatient counseling, and prevention services for Flagler County. One Voice for Volusia is doing business as the Substance Use Prevention Coalition and neutral community facilitator in Volusia County, focusing on addressing risk factors and building protective factors to prevent early initiation of youth substance use.

Now covering a two-county footprint, Flagler Cares and One Voice for Volusia can expand coordinated services and continue to bring resources and collaboration in behavioral health, social services, and substance use prevention, all work informed by data and the community members we serve.

By working together with other established agencies, Flagler Cares hopes to create a vital, expansive social safety net that addresses virtually all the social service needs of our most vulnerable citizens, thus strengthening our community.

Mission: Flagler Cares aspires to be a driving force behind bold innovations and the mobilization of all sectors of the community, strengthening our organized capacity to meet human needs and create a coordinated safety net of prevention, health and social care services.

Flagler Cares is committed to:

• Treating all members of our community with compassion and dignity, and meeting people where they are without judgment.
• Striving for a YES—taking the extra steps to find solutions in the face of unworkability.
• Managing and directing ourselves and the organization with impeccable integrity, honesty, and transparent communication.
• Being a listening ear and trusted advocate.
• Believing in everyone’s human potential and ability to achieve self-sufficiency.
• A culture of trust, collaboration, fairness, and respect.
• Being a place where anyone can feel comfortable asking for help.
• Fostering a “No Wrong Door” approach to support and services.
• Being bold and innovative to challenge the status quo.
• Flexibility and the ability to respond to change.
• Being a good steward of resources.