TAMPA, Fla. — The behavioral health and mental wellness budget in Polk County is getting a huge financial improvement. 

The budget is getting $15.8 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a 117% increase from the previous fiscal year.

For Carolyn Nelson, who lost her job with the Polk County School District back in the 2010s, the Polk HealthCare Plan made a difference.

The plan is not insurance, but offers Polk residents access to healthcare, according to the county's website.

Members pay small co-pays for doctor visits or filled prescriptions.

“It allowed me to go to doctor visits.” said Nelson. “It allowed me to go to the hospital and also my medication at the time.”

The health plan falls under the county's health and mental wellness budget.

Administrators say the additional funding is coming from a voter-approved half-cent sales tax and federal and state funding after an opioid lawsuit settlement.

“We’re now getting opioid settlement funds that are coming into our county as a result of that lawsuit,” said Polk County Health and Human Services administrator Joy Johnson. “So with that, we want to do more in the community in terms of education, prevention and treatment services and recovery for people. We’re hoping to serve hundreds more people in our community.”

Nelson says it certainly was a lifesaver for her and her family.

Now, she spends her days helping people in need through her Rise Up Feed and Seed Ministries.

And she wants to make sure others who are currently in the situation she was in get the help and assistance they need to.

“I’ve had people visit that had mental issues. With Polk Health Plan, you can get help, so I would say take advantage of this, because (the plan) is what you need for any time you’re going through your mental crisis. It helped me through mine,” she said.