Child welfare and foster care
As a comprehensive human services organization, we can bridge gaps unlike any other agency.
For instance, addiction and mental health issues can potentially overlap into child abuse, abandonment and neglect. That’s where our child welfare colleagues at FamiliesFirst Network can step in to help ensure the safety of children while our Lakeview Center teams work with the parents to receive recovery services and children to receive the specialized care they need. Together, we work to ensure the safety and well-being of children across Northwest Florida.
Specialized treatment for foster children
Therapeutic services are provided to youth in foster care who have increased emotional, behavioral, or social needs due to the trauma they have experienced. These youth are served in Specialized Therapeutic Foster Homes, where they can receive intensive support, structured supervision, and professional interventions.
If you can help change a youth’s life by becoming a specialized therapeutic foster parent, learn more about becoming a specialized foster parent.
For children who need it, we also offer foster care group homes and residential treatment settings.
Family Intensive Therapy Team
The Family Intensive Therapy Team operates across four counties (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton). We serve parents involved with the Department of Children and Families or FamiliesFirst Network, including parents who are at risk of losing custody or who have already lost custody of their child due to substance abuse issues. This program provides peer support services, intensive therapy and case management services. Our team includes several CPP-qualified therapists – mental health professionals who have completed specialized training in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), a relationship-based therapy for young children (ages 0-6) and their caregivers. No insurance is required to participate in this program.
Program questions or assistance:
850-495-5574
Family Care
Family Care is a specialty service that provides court-ordered assessments and recommendations, for behavioral health, educational and medical services to children in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Clients receiving Family Care are referred through the Department of Children and Families or FamiliesFirst Network. Assessments include a comprehensive evaluation of mental health, substance misuse issues, health, legal history, family dynamics, environmental and relationship analysis, as well as parenting concerns related to the child.
New client registration:
850-469-3500
Program questions or assistance:
850-495-5586, Family Care Coordinator
850-495-2450, Family Care Clinical Manager
Family Support Team
In Walton County, the Family Support Team provides an intensive, in-home program focused on building safe, healthy and caring environments for children and adolescents. Our goal is to help families remain together, as long as children are safe in their homes.
Case management services are provided on a referral basis in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families and FamiliesFirst Network.
Program questions or assistance: 850-529-4697
Residential care
Lakeview Center offers two foster care group homes – Cabot Heights and Arcadia Place – for teenagers ages 13-17 experiencing mental health and/or substance use issues. Services include assessment, evaluation, crisis intervention, education and consultation, behavior management, therapy, medication management, and recreational activities. Our specialized team helps these youth prepare for living in a family setting or independent environment. Learn more.
