GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Building on the successes of the county’s Hammer and Hope program, a fourth community services event will be at Vera Francis Park on March 20.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office created the program’s two-pronged approach in January, 2021. Now in its third year, Sheriff Michelle Cook said it’s led to marketable results.

The “Hammer” portion targets drug dealers and abusers, while the “Hope" component offers treatment and counseling to people with an addiction and their families. There will be at least 20 service providers at the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help families affected by opioid abuse.

After launching the program, Cook said, “There is a cycle of drugs, crime and broken families that reach across our county. Here in Clay County, drug dealing will not be tolerated. If you are dealing drugs in Clay County, we’re going to find you and arrest you. But we cannot arrest our way out of this problem.”

There were 630 drug-related arrests in Clay County last year, Cook said. Also, the conviction rate for drug charges has increased by nearly 15% to 85%, she said.

In addition to the sheriff’s office, Fire Rescue’s Paramedicine Unit will dispense Narcan kits and establish training sessions on its use.

Since Hammer and Hope’s inception, more than 5,500 Narcan kits and Fire Rescue has trained more than 800 residents on how to respond to an opioid overdose. To request a Narcan kit or enroll in a group training class, visit claycounty.gov/community/community-paramedicine-program or email community.paramedicine@claycountygov.com.

The number of deadly overdoses and the number of calls for service have been cut in half since the program launched.

Cook said Hammer and Hope is a “safe space” to start the process of sobriety. Clay Behavioral Health Center, Impact Clay, Clay Action Coalition, The Way Free Medical Clinic, Clay County Tax Collector’s Office, Kids First of Florida, The Quigley House, Department of Health Clay, Mercy Auto, Florida Department of Children and Families, Operation Barnabas, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, River Christian Church’s Celebrate Recovery Program, First Baptist Middleburg, Supervisor of Elections Office and Groups Recover Together also will participate.

Other Hammer and Hope community events have occurred at Clay Hill, Keystone Heights, and Orange Park.

The park is at 1503 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.