Foster parents open their hearts, providing children in our community with a safe, stable place to call home.
When you choose to become a foster parent, you make a lifelong impact on children who need a home.
Explore your options with Lakeview Center
Specialized Therapeutic Foster Care (Level IV License)
Becoming a Specialized Therapeutic Foster Parent means joining a compassionate community that provides love, structure and care for children with unique needs. Highly trained behavioral health team members at Lakeview Center help match interested foster parents with children based on their individual needs.
Who can be a foster parent
• 21 years of age or older
• Can be single, married or in a committed relationship
• Have sufficient income to support your household
• Complete 30 hours of free Quality Parent Training (and program-specific training)
Open your heart. Change a life.
CHIPS is a Medicaid-funded program that provides therapeutic foster care for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. This program also helps to address neurodevelopmental concerns, including autism and communication difficulties.
What to expect as a CHIPS foster parent:
• Provide a safe, nurturing home for 9 to 12 months
• Partner with a dedicated clinical team to support the child’s growth
• Weekly home visits from clinical staff
• Attend monthly meetings to discuss progress and treatment goals
• Receive specialized training, guidance and paid respite days
Support services include:
• Weekly, person-centered therapy for the child
• Weekly support for foster parents from a mental health professional to coordinate implementation of treatment strategies
• Additional monthly stipend based on the child’s level of need
• Special foster family support activities and events
• 24/7 on-call support from a mental health professional
Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Foster Care for children.
See inspiring stories of our foster parents:
Ready to make a difference?
Contact Marie Johnson, Foster Parent Retention Coordinator
850-417-3265
[email protected]
Pensacola, Fla. (August 13, 2026) – Coastal Rush Soccer proudly presented a $2,763 donation to Lakeview Center’s specialized therapeutic foster care program, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to supporting children and families throughout the Gulf Coast community. “Coastal Rush is built around families. Every week, hundreds of families trust us with an important part of their […]
For more than 22 years, Eddie and Allison have opened their doors to more than 80 children in need, offering safety, compassion and stability. Though they joined Lakeview Center’s CHIPS (Changing Horizons through Innovative Parenting Systems) program just this past October, their fostering journey began decades earlier. Lakeview Center’s CHIPS program serves youth in foster […]
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 […]
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