Jax Fire Rescue Earns Top State Honor for Opioid Program

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department's Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Program has achieved recognition as one of Florida's top 10 performing recovery networks for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This accolade includes a $64,000 award from Lutheran Services Florida.

This funding is designated to supplement ongoing care for individuals facing opioid use disorder. The CORE program is part of a broader statewide initiative aimed at establishing a comprehensive system for addiction care.

Distinctively, the program embeds care coordinators and peer navigators directly within emergency department settings. Participants benefit from medication-assisted therapy and long-term wraparound services meticulously designed to disrupt the cycle of addiction.

Captain Brielle Barnhill and the JFRD CORE team were instrumental in this success. Their dedicated efforts and consistent reporting to Lutheran Services Florida led to this state-level recognition. Barnhill stated that the CORE program is one of JFRD's most impactful initiatives outside of traditional fire response, stating, "We're meeting people where they are, removing barriers to care and helping them find their road to recovery."

Fire Chief Percy Golden II emphasized that the additional funding will bolster critical assistance for community members. He noted, "Every family touched by opioid use disorder deserves a path back to stability and this program helps make that possible."

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department serves over 1 million residents across 840 square miles of Duval County, employing 1,900 personnel across 71 stations and responding to over 100,000 calls annually.