How Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare Is Transforming Mental Health Support in Northeast Florida

A Mission Rooted in Community Care

Since 1992, Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare has been a cornerstone of mental health and addiction recovery services in Northeast Florida. Every day, the organization works to ensure that children, adults, and families have access to compassionate, evidence-based behavioral healthcare, no matter their income level, background, or circumstances.

Starting Point’s mission is simple but deeply powerful: To promote emotional wellness through psychiatric, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment services combined with community education and awareness.

Leadership That Puts People First

Under the leadership of Dr. Laureen Pagel, Starting Point has expanded services, strengthened partnerships, and brought innovative behavioral health programs to communities that have historically been underserved.

Dr. Pagel’s leadership emphasizes:

• accessible care for both rural and urban residents

• community partnerships that deepen local impact

• evidence-based treatment and early intervention

• whole-person care that looks beyond symptoms

• reducing barriers to treatment for individuals and families

Her vision continues to drive the organization’s growth and reinforces Starting Point’s role as a trusted mental health and community leader in Northeast Florida.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in Northeast Florida

In a region where many residents face many barriers to mental healthcare, Starting Point has developed a model of care centered on accessibility, continuity, and compassion.

The organization offers a wide range of services, including:

• mental health counseling

• substance use treatment and recovery support

• youth and family services

• psychiatric evaluations and medication management

• crisis support

• community education and prevention programs

Each program is designed to meet people where they are, whether that be in schools, homes, workplaces, and beyond.

Serving Families Through Prevention & Education

Starting Point believes that mental health support shouldn’t begin only when someone is in crisis. Through community education, and school-based programs, the organization helps families identify challenges early and connect to resources sooner.

This approach strengthens the entire community by:

• reducing stigma

• giving parents tools to support their children

• empowering young people to ask for help

• preventing crises before they escalate

Starting Point’s prevention programs have become a key part of how the region addresses mental wellness holistically.

Partnerships That Strengthen the Community

One of the agency’s greatest strengths is its collaborative approach. Starting Point partners with:

• local hospitals

• law enforcement

• schools

• nonprofits

• government agencies

• civic organizations

These partnerships create a connected safety net for people experiencing mental health or substance-use challenges. By working together, the community can respond faster, more effectively, and with greater empathy.

A Vision for the Future

Starting Point continues to grow its programs, staff, and services to meet the rising need for behavioral healthcare across Northeast Florida. With a commitment to innovation and a focus on strengthening community partnerships, the organization is preparing for years of service to come.

Future priorities include:

• expanding access to youth mental health services

• strengthening outreach

• increasing crisis support options

• continuing community education and stigma reduction efforts through programs like Talkable Communities

• improving long-term recovery support

  
  

  

Starting Point’s leadership, staff, and community partners share one goal: helping more people find the support they deserve.

A Community Where Everyone Has Access to Hope

Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare remains a beacon of hope for children, adults, and families across Nassau County and Northeast Florida. Through dedicated leadership, compassionate service, and strong community partnerships, the organization continues to make mental health care more accessible, more equitable, and more effective.

Its impact can be seen not just in programs and numbers, but in the lives changed every single day.