Meridian, a nonprofit behavioral‑health provider serving North Central Florida, asked Bradford County commissioners on July 1 to provide a local Baker Act match of $83,018.25 for fiscal year 2025–26 — the same local match the agency requested in the prior year.

Ashley Brooks, chief operating officer at Meridian (speaking on behalf of CEO Lauren Cohen), presented program data showing services provided to county residents year‑to‑date: 738 Bradford County residents received a total of 4,543 telehealth services through May 27, and the agency reported a payer mix in which roughly 82% of clients in the county are at or below poverty guidelines. Brooks said Meridian's agency‑wide local match obligation is $2,346,000 and that Bradford County's share for the Baker Act match is $83,018.25 for FY26, per state statute language cited by the presenter.

Brooks said the county‑funded clinician position that began with county support last year (funded in part by a county allocation of $87,000) is now incorporated into Meridian its budget moving forward; the agency thanked the board for that initial support.

Board members asked for more frequent updates on Meridian's local outcomes than an annual presentation. Ashley Brooks agreed to provide quarterly summary reports to the county; the board directed staff to add those reports to the consent agenda so commissioners receive them without requiring an in‑person presentation.

Taper: Meridian will return materials and quarterly summaries by email and consent‑agenda submission; the board will consider the formal appropriation for the Baker Act match during the budget hearings if the board chooses to fund the request.