Marion County Hospital District approves multiple programs, grants at most recent meeting

Beacon Point is shown on Southwest Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Ocala, on Sept. 21, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

At their regular meeting on Jan. 31, the Marion County Hospital District (MCHD) board of trustees approved two programs, one designed to track and accelerate strategy execution, the other allows a re-entry program to occupy space at Beacon Point.  Additionally, the board approved two grants for the Transitions Life Center (TLC).

According to documents provided at the meeting, the Balanced Scorecard proposal is designed to assist MCHD in tracking district-run programs and initiatives, as well as improving overall efficiency.  The proposal was submitted by Paul Nevin, the president of Senalosa, Inc., a Canada-based consulting company, and includes a review of current practices, a survey of district employees, and creating and educating employees on a balanced scorecard.  The proposal comes with a cost of $50,000, $25,000 upon completion of a training workshop, and $25,000 upon completion of a measures workshop.

The board also approved the use of space at Beacon Point for Xtreme SOULutions, Inc., a non-profit working inside Marion Correctional Institution, designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals find counseling and medicine-assisted treatment.  According to a Memorandum of Understanding provided at the meeting, Xtreme SOULutions will work with existing providers located at Beacon Point to direct individuals to the appropriate services based on their needs and to assist in re-integration of those living in the area.

Beacon Point is a campus utilized by the MCHD to offer behavioral health and substance abuse treatment as well as life-stabilization services for Marion County’s homeless, un-and under-insured, low-income and indigent citizens.

One of the TLC grants is for $33,000 and will be used to fund a “navigator” program for one year, contingent on receiving matching funds.  The program is designed to provide one central navigator who will assist families and caregivers of individuals with special needs in locating support services, applying for state and federal programs, and offering assistance in securing medical and dental care.

The second TLC grant the board approved totaled $35,000 and will be used toward the purchase and installation of four shock-absorbent basketball half courts which TLC members utilize a minimum of 35 minutes per day they are at TLC.

[Editors’ note: This story was updated to include a change of Xtreme SOULutions operating inside Marion Correctional Institution.  A previous version stated the program was located inside Lowell Prison]