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Stories

For more than 20 years, FamiliesFirst Network has served children who have been abused or neglected in Northwest Florida. In our 2023 fiscal year:

Our team members share our mission of “helping people” every day. Some of their stories are below.

All interview requests must be made through our Marketing and Communications department. For assistance, please call 850-503-8164.

Ladies laughing in kitchen

Designated a 2025 Military Friendly® Employer

Pensacola, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2025) – LifeView Group – parent company of FamiliesFirst Network – has been named a 2025 Military Friendly® Employer. This marks LifeView Group’s third consecutive year earning this designation, signifying the organization’s commitment to the military and veteran community from hiring to career advancement.As a nonprofit family of companies, LifeView Group […]

headshot of bill on a winter background

Congratulations to FamiliesFirst Network Team Member of the Quarter, Bill!

Bill Ritter, System Support Specialist, has been named FamiliesFirst Network’s Team Member of the Quarter for his exceptional dedication and support. Bill goes above and beyond his duties, often stepping in to assist teammates during PTO, ensuring tasks are completed with the same care and attention he applies to all his work. Marisela DeWitt shared, […]

headshot of Jennie on a winter background

Congratulations to LifeView Group Team Member of the Quarter, Jennie!

Jennie Butler, benefits coordinator has been named Team Member of the Quarter for LifeView Group – parent company of FamiliesFirst Network – for her exceptional contributions to the annual Health & Welfare (H&W) audit at GCE, our affiliate providing career services for team members with disabilities. Over the past three years, Jennie has progressively taken […]

FamiliesFirst Network Adoptions team

FamiliesFirst Network receives national Adoption Excellence Award from Children’s Bureau

Pensacola, Fla. (November 21, 2024) – Local children awaiting adoption – and the Northwest Florida families eager to adopt – are in good hands, according to news from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. FamiliesFirst Network has received the national Adoption Excellence Award by the Children’s Bureau. This award recognizes the organization’s exceptional […]

Rubi Fournier DeJesus, unit manager for Escambia County case management, has been named Team Member of the Quarter for FamiliesFirst Network!

Congratulations to FamiliesFirst Network Team Member of the Quarter, Rubi!

Rubi Fournier DeJesus, unit manager for Escambia County case management, has been named Team Member of the Quarter for FamiliesFirst Network! Rubi never settles when it comes to engaging with parents and helping them along the steps to reunification. Her commitment extends equally to her team members, as she achieves near-perfect punctuality in completing supervisory […]

Rubi Fournier-De Jesus, Unit Manager, Case Management

Rubi’s Biggest Success

A few months into her role as a case manager at FamiliesFirst Network, Rubi Fournier-De Jesus encountered a case that would shape her professional journey for the next several years. A mother faced challenges related to substance use and living conditions, presenting significant obstacles right from the start. The mother’s initial response was one of uncooperativeness […]

Elyssa Forester Career spotlight journey

Career Journey Spotlight: Elyssa Forester

Our long-standing team member, Elyssa Forester, employment services manager, has gracefully navigated her 15-year tenure at LifeView Group through personal challenges and a deep-seated love for legal intricacies. Elyssa began working with us while she was still in college in 2009, initially assuming the entry-level role of behavior health technician at Lakeview Center’s West Florida […]

lifeview group ranked number 8 by Women's edge, 2024 top 100 women-led businesses in florida

LifeView Group ranked #8 on Top 100 Women-led Businesses in Florida

Pensacola is home to one of the state’s top women-led businesses. LifeView Group ranked No. 8 on this year’s “Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Florida” by The Women’s Edge. The list includes nonprofit and for-profit organizations whose leaders are among the highest-ranking female executives in the Florida marketplace. Allison Hill, LifeView Group’s chief executive officer, […]