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The biggest barrier to treatment is often not willingness, it is access: the work schedule that conflicts with clinic hours, the missing ride, the cost.
A program in Orange County, Florida is built to knock those barriers down by bringing free and low-cost treatment and recovery services into one place, one afternoon a month.
Known as Better Access to Treatment, or BAT Days, the initiative connects underserved residents with substance-use recovery resources, mental health services and primary care at no charge, according to the Orange County government newsroom.
The whole design is about access: meeting people where they are so cost and logistics stop standing between them and care.
How BAT Days Increase Access
BAT Days are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Centers for Addiction and Mental Health Programs (CAMP) on Orange Blossom Trail.
The afternoon window is deliberate, chosen to reach people whose jobs start very early or run late and who cannot make a morning appointment.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Annie-Grace Funderburg, who launched the initiative after joining Orange County in August 2025, said she wanted to eliminate barriers such as work schedules, transportation and affordability for people working toward a healthy, sustainable life.
Holding the event in the same place at the same time every month means residents know the treatment services will be there when they need them.
What Free Services Are Offered
At no cost, BAT Days provide HIV and Hepatitis-C testing, connections to free or affordable primary care providers, mental health resources and case management.
Through community donations, participants also receive free snacks, toiletries, feminine hygiene products and clothing.
CAMP was chosen in part because it also helps provide stable housing, letting residents focus on employment, recovery and long-term stability.
The collaboration includes the Orange County Drug-Free Coalition, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, CAN Community Health, Hope and Help, Recovery Connections, STEPS Inc., the Orange County Public Library System, and the Orlando Police Department.
Who Qualifies
BAT Days are open to residents who need a connection to care, with no fee standing in the way.
The program is aimed at underserved and underinsured people, including those who face affordability, transportation or scheduling obstacles to getting help.
Free and Low-Cost Rehabs in Florida
BAT Days are one entry point into a wider safety net of affordable care. If you are working out how to pay for treatment, a few steps help:
- Check if you qualify for Florida Medicaid coverage for rehab.
- Visit Orange County Responds for local resource connections
- Contact SAMHSA’s national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential referrals.
For more information free treatment in your area, Rehabs.org lists verified low-cost treatment options nationwide. Call
800-914-7089
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to find affordable care.
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