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David Lawrence Centers opened its doors in 1969 with three staff members in a donated storefront. And it wasn’t long before the team realized a campus in Immokalee was needed.

In the 1970s, DLC added a 12-bed adult substance use treatment facility operated out of donated trailers in Immokalee. About a decade later, with help from a government grant secured by then State Rep. Mary Ellen Hawkins, a relatively full-service satellite clinic officially opened on the site.

Today, the Immokalee clinic is located at 425 North First Street, about 45 minutes from DLC’s main campus. The clinic serves clients in unincorporated east Collier County who might otherwise have a hard time getting to our Naples facility. Immokalee, known for its agriculture industry, is home to many immigrant and migrant families.

The site is now overseen by Mariana Perez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and DLC’s 2016 Employee of the Year. She has long been a champion for addressing special challenges in the Immokalee community.

Perez says DLC’s presence in the area “has been positively impacting individuals and families that are from different cultural backgrounds to improve their lives by providing an array of services treating mental health and substance use.

“DLC understands the unique needs of their community and has been working incessantly to prevent, educate, and support individuals and families without a judgmental approach to reach their full potential.”

Satellite offices like the one in Immokalee are only made possible through support of friends like you. Please consider a special gift today. Thank you!