- December 13, 2025
County Administrator Heidi Petito and CEO and Founder of Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House Sandra Shank both won awards for the contributions to the community at the inaugural Gala of Light event. Photo by Sierra Williams
From left to right: SMA Healthcare Vice President of Flagler County Services Andrew Williams, County Administrator Heidi Petito, CEO and Founder of Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House Sandra Shank, SMA Donor Relations Manager Melissa Gabriel and Flagler Commission Chair Andy Dance. Photo by Sierra Williams
From left to right: Lotus Funeral Services owner Nina Guiglotto, Flagler Commission Chair Andy Dance and local business owner Shara Brodsky. Photo by Sierra Williams
The SMA Healthcare Foundation proudly announces its inaugural Gala of Light was held at the Hammock Beach Resort on Nov. 8. Photo by Sierra Williams
The SMA Healthcare Foundation proudly announces its inaugural Gala of Light was held at the Hammock Beach Resort on Nov. 8. Photo by Sierra Williams
A fire dancer performed at the Gala of Light event. Photo by Sierra Williams
County Administrator Heidi Petito with Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance. Photo by Sierra Williams
Multiple Flagler County officials and community stakeholders attended the SMA Healthcare inaugural event, including Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson Jr. (far left), Mayor Catherine Robinson (second left) and Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito (center). Photo by Sierra Williams
AdventHealth Communications Manager Michelle Bartlome nominated Sandra Shank for the Phoenix Award. Photo by Sierra Williams
CEO and Founder of Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House Sandra Shank accepts the first Phoenix Award from SMA Healthcare. Photo by Sierra Williams
SMA Healthcare and Flagler County will be breaking ground on a new crisis stabilization unit on Nov. 18.
“As Flagler County continues to grow, so does our responsibility to expand access to strengthening behavioral health services,” said Andrew Williams, SMA Healthcare's vice president of Flagler County services. “We've taken the cruise control off the vehicle, and we are pressing forward with innovation, partnership and expansion like never before.”
SMA Healthcare provides comprehensive services for individuals in need of mental health services as well as substance abuse services across multiple counties in Northeast Florida. In Flagler County, those services include a Crisis Triage and Treatment Unit, the Mobile Crisis Response Team, and primary care services.
The future crisis stabilization unit, and a new men’s residential unit, is the result of a public-private partnership between Flagler County and SMA Healthcare. Flagler County has requested and received $10 million in legislative funding to help build the crisis unit and residential program and SMA has committed another $4 million to the project, Williams said.
Currently, Williams said, individuals who need crisis intervention or to detox need to leave Flagler County to receive services.
“The gap in services is exactly what led to this project and why we're here today,” Williams said.
The announcement of the groundbreaking for the new facility came during SMA Healthcare’s inaugural Gala of Light, which celebrated the achievements and milestones made in behavioral healthcare. It was held on Nov. 8 at the Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa.
Organized by SMA Donor Relations Manager Melissa Gabriel, Gabriel said it was important the Flagler community knows what SMA Healthcare is and that it is there to support the individuals in the community.
“We have a lot of growth happening in Flagler right now,” she said. “We're here to change lives, and we wanted to do something that was very impactful, that was going to make a difference and stand out.”
The Gala recognized Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito and CEO and Founder of Life Ministries-Hope House Sandra Shank as the first two people chosen for the Impact and Phoenix Awards.
Shank, Gabriel said, embodies the idea of the Phoenix Award, which celebrates “someone who has overcome either mental health and or substance use disorder challenges, and has gone on to do great things.”
In her acceptance speech, Shank talked about how she was a survivor of sexual assault in the military. In 1987, she said, she attempted suicide because of of that assault.
“‘Darkness remains dark until light enters the room, and then the darkness has to flee,’” Shank said. “There was no light for me.”
Since then, Shank said she created her group home Hope House as a direct result of her experience in the military. If not for her surviving her suicide attempt, she would, not have her family or been around to create Hope House.
Even years later, though, she said, she still faces triggers for her recovery. But that is part of what it means “to rise up out of the ashes.”
“It's faith, family and community, why I'm here and able to do the work that I'm able to do,” Shank said.
Petito, a SMA board member, Gabriel said, is an amazing advocate for SMA Healthcare. The Impact Award did not have to be related to or had an impact on SMA Healthcare specifically, she said, but Petito has played a vital role with the expansion of SMA’s integrated stabilization unit.
“The meaning behind the Impact Award was to celebrate someone who had made huge strides in either mental health and or substance use disorder for us or in the community,” Gabriel said.
While introducing Petito for the award, Williams the award doesn’t just honor her accomplishments.
“We honor her heart for people, her vision for community well being, and her deep rooted belief that behavioral health care is essential to a thriving community,” he said. “Thank you, Heidi, for being a true champion for mental health.”
The funds raised by the Gala, which cost $300 per seat to attend and also included raffle drawings for attendees, will directly benefit SMA Healthcare’s programs and services in Flagler County. Gabriel said Flagler County residents should know SMA Healthcare is “here to stay.”
“We're here to make an impact and to do great things,” she said. “We want to change people's lives.”
