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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 serves 2,700 children from Escambia to Walton County.
  • We provide 750+ children’s families with specialized in-home prevention services aimed at keeping kids and parents safely together, reducing the need for out-of-home placements.
  • Our case management services help 970+ children’s cases to be safely closed and 190+ children to be safely reunited with their families.
  • We help 100+ young adults aging out of foster care.

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 cover image of Hannah Cole

Professional Growth Journey: Hannah Cole

When FamiliesFirst Network’s Hannah Cole began her career in child welfare, she didn’t realize how this field of work would shape her life. Starting with case management, Hannah spent more than 5 years working alongside families during some of their most difficult moments. Last year, an opportunity arose, transitioning Hannah to the position of adoption […]

FFN 20th Annual Conference photos.

FamiliesFirst Network hosts 20th Annual Child Welfare Conference

On Tuesday, May 6th, FamiliesFirst Network proudly hosted its 20th Annual Child Welfare Conference! We are grateful to everyone who joined us for an informative and inspiring day where speakers discussed past accomplishments, present challenges and the future potential of child welfare. Thank you to our host, Gateway Church of Christ, and to all of […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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 […]

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 […]