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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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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 […]

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Laura Goodall-Brown has been named LifeView Group Team Member of the Year

Laura Goodall-Brown, HR-IS manager, has been named LifeView Group Team Member of the Year! Laura plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of our team member data and ensuring our HR systems run efficiently. Her dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on our organization. Laura sought a career with LifeView Group because […]

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 […]

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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 […]

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 […]