Faced with a rising need for mental health and substance misuse care, Lakeview Center has grown with our community since 1954. Each year, we serve more than 29,000 adults and children in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Some of these stories of growth and success – for our team members and those we serve – are below.
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For many mothers battling addiction, recovery often comes with an unbearable cost—being separated from their children. At the JoAnn Birge Women and Children’s Center in Walton County, moms get the chance to heal while staying with their babies, creating space for recovery and reunification. For Sara, that chance meant everything. Sara began struggling with addiction […]
Compassion has always been at the heart of Heather Landry’s career. With a bachelor’s degree in special education and a passion for helping vulnerable populations, Heather joined Lakeview Center nearly three years ago, beginning her work in children’s residential services. “I’ve always kind of had a heart for community service,” she said. “I used to […]
When 20-year-old Rikaylah began showing signs of bipolar disorder—something she had seen her father struggle with—her mother knew just what to do. She called 911, and Rikaylah was taken to Lakeview Center, the Central Receiving Facility for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Individuals in mental health crisis come to Lakeview Center’s downtown Pensacola campus for […]
When Jasmin White first started at Lakeview Center in 2014, she thought it would be a short-term job. Instead, what started as “just a job” quickly grew into a calling. “I actually enjoyed the work and showing up every day,” Jasmin said. “When clients come back months later to check in and thank me, it’s […]
For nearly a decade, Kenithia Brewington has opened her heart and home to children through Lakeview Center’s CHIPS (Changing Horizons through Innovative Parenting Systems) program. Her passion for fostering stems from personal experience—having been raised by her uncle for part of her childhood, Kenithia understands the feeling of being separated from a biological parent. “I […]
“I actually got tricked into becoming an adult foster parent,” Robert Gulley laughs. “A friend convinced me to come to a Lakeview Center training years ago—and I’ve been doing it ever since.” Now 76 years old and a retired Navy veteran, Robert has spent the last 15 years caring as a foster parent through Lakeview […]
Pensacola, Fla. (May 28, 2025) – Landrum presented to Lakeview Center a $17,297.14 donation – proceeds from the 2nd Annual Landrum 5K Run/Walk held in October of 2024. Last year, Lakeview Center served more than 27,000 adults and children with mental illnesses, drug and alcohol dependencies and intellectual disabilities. The Landrum 5K promotes awareness of […]
Rita Grandberry’s foster care journey is nothing short of remarkable. With a history of fostering that began over 30 years ago, Rita’s passion for giving back stems from deeply personal experiences. After her 21-year-old son was tragically murdered, she turned to foster care as a way to heal and honor his memory. “Someone took a […]
Pensacola, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) – Buona Fortuna Lodge in Pensacola awarded Lakeview Center a $1,000 grant. This generous donation will help support crisis mental health needs from Escambia to Walton County – particularly Lakeview Center’s Mobile Response Team (MRT). MRT offers 24/7 crisis intervention and support, providing telephone triage or coming to callers for […]
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