David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit behavioral health provider, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Barron Collier Jr. Foundation to support its Veterans’ Services Program.

DLC’s Veterans’ Services Program provides compassionate, personalized care for individuals experiencing behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and co-occurring substance use challenges. Funds from the grant will be used to help veterans in need of inpatient, outpatient and community-based services receive clinical and psychiatric support care navigation, case management, clinical supervision and other services. In fiscal year 2024, DLC cared for 127 veterans, providing 4,132 services to them.

“This generous grant from the Barron Collier Jr. Foundation will help us continue expanding vital services for individuals and families who have sacrificed so much for our community,” said Kimberly Dye, vice president of advancement at DLC. “Our Veterans’ Services Program is designed to build meaningful partnerships between veterans and their families to help them function better at home, in the community, in educational settings and on the job, preparing them for a successful future. This funding will provide support and hope to more veterans in need throughout Collier County.”

Through case management services, veterans also receive peer-to-peer support and access to DLC’s Veteran Peer Access Network, an industry best practice that prioritizes hiring veterans as system navigators to connect other veterans in need to resources that will help.

“We are proud to support the work of the David Lawrence Centers and helping those who have served return to their families, communities and the workforce,” said Blake Gable, CEO of Barron Collier Companies and director of the Barron Collier Jr. Foundation. “This is not just a responsibility – it’s a privilege. Offering support for their mental health is a way to honor that service and fulfill our collective responsibility to care for those who have protected our freedoms.”

DLC continues to see a growing need for services to support veterans suffering from behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and co-occurring substance use challenges that are common among combat veterans returning from deployment. Specialized case managers help veterans identify their goals related to medical, substance-use recovery, mental health, housing and more.

For more than 55 years, DLC has been committed to ensuring behavioral health care is available to everyone in need through education, prevention, intervention and treatment. DLC delivers care throughout the community through six distinct centers of operation, including mental health, addiction recovery, emergency services, awareness and prevention, virtual care, and children and young adults.

To learn more about the lifesaving and life-changing services and programs offered by David Lawrence Centers, visit DLCenters.org.

About David Lawrence Centers 

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents, and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves 9,000 people through over 341,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, visit DLCenters.org or call 239-455-8500.

About the Barron Collier Jr. Foundation

Founded in the 1970s, the Barron Collier Jr. Foundation makes grants available for education, children’s healthcare, environmental causes, and local charities. Barron Collier Companies is proud to give back significantly through the Foundation, with its focus on supporting local initiatives in Southwest Florida. For more information, please visit the foundation’s website.