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Stories

For more than 20 years, FamiliesFirst Network has served children who have been abused or neglected in Northwest Florida. Each 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.

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Growing professionally: Pam Smith

Pam Smith walked into Lakeview Center 55 years ago not knowing she would help shape the organization into what it is today. What started as a role answering the crisis line turned into a decades-long journey of leadership, service and professional growth. This July, Pam transitions into retirement, closing one of the most impactful chapters […]

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Brandy Dyer named FamiliesFirst Network Team Member of the Quarter

Brandy Dyer, records specialist in vital statistics, has been named FamiliesFirst Network Team Member of the Quarter! In just one year, she’s streamlined processes—building relationships with the local health department and Social Security Administration and advocating for language changes in shelter orders with Children’s Legal Services to speed up permanency for kids. Brandy’s solution-oriented approach […]

LifeView Group ranked #7 on Top 100 Women-led Businesses in Florida

LifeView Group ranked #7 on Top 100 Women-led Businesses in Florida

Pensacola, Fla. (May 21, 2025) – LifeView Group, parent company of FamiliesFirst Network, has been ranked No. 7 on The Women’s Edge’s 2025 list of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Florida. The annual list recognizes both nonprofit and for-profit organizations led by prominent female executives across the state. This is the fourth consecutive year […]

LifeView Group honored as a 2025 VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer

Pensacola, Fla. (May 1, 2025) –  LifeView Group, the parent company of FamiliesFirst Network, has been recognized as a 4 Star Employer by VETS Indexes Employer Awards for 2025. This prestigious accolade highlights LifeView Group’s steadfast commitment to fostering a veteran-friendly workplace and supporting the military community through employment opportunities and dedicated resources. The VETS […]

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Growing professionally: Judy Sands

Judy Sands’ journey at FamiliesFirst Network is a testament to her dedication and a lifelong passion for service. Growing up in a close-knit community, she always felt drawn to helping others. Initially, she pursued a career in early childhood education, earning an Associate of Arts degree and a Child Development Associate credential. However, after gaining […]

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Growing professionally: Lindsey McGriff

For 20 years, Lindsey McGriff has dedicated her career to supporting others and helping the organization grow. Now serving as LifeView Group’s manager of Quality Systems and Data Analysis, she oversees audit tracking, policy and procedure management, accreditation preparation and reporting to ensure continuous improvement within the company. Lindsey’s path to LifeView Group was shaped […]

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Amy has been named FamiliesFirst Network Team Member of the Quarter

Amy Weeks, child welfare case manager, exemplifies our values in everything she does. Her journey from family support worker to case manager has been marked by dedication and excellence—evident in her completion of certification in less than the allotted 10 months. Now, as a leader in her field, Amy has achieved the highest number of […]

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Growing professionally: Beverly Orezzoli

Beverly Orezzoli’s career in child welfare at FamiliesFirst Network spans over two decades, beginning as an intern before transitioning into case management. From her early role working with families in out-of-home care to becoming an adoption supervisor and now a team manager for case management, Beverly has dedicated her career to advocating for children and […]

adoptions team

FamiliesFirst Network Adoptions team honored as Team Member of the Year

FamiliesFirst Network’s adoptions team has been recognized as Team Member of the Year in honor of their dedication and impact in helping children find loving, permanent homes. Their hard work was further validated on a national level with the prestigious Adoption Excellence Award from the Children’s Bureau, part of the U.S. Department of Health and […]