LA AMISTAD FOUNDATION INC
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Mission Statement
Lakewood Center’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for adults with chronic mental illness by maintaining a community in which these individuals can live with dignity and independence, as they pursue leisure activities, social relationships, and meaningful work.
About This Cause
Lakewood Center emerged from the La Amistad Foundation, established in 1970 as a sanctuary for adolescents grappling with severe mental illness. Originally a halfway house, the evolution into Lakewood Center in 1989 marked a strategic shift towards providing unwavering, high-quality long-term care for adults battling chronic mental health conditions. Rooted in this journey of transformation, we stand today as a beacon of support—a compassionate community dedicated to nurturing the well-being of adults in need of enduring mental health care. Lakewood Center is a residential community offering long-term psychiatric treatment to adults ages 21 and over diagnosed with a mental illness including Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Lakewood residents enjoy a safe, supportive environment located on a peaceful 15-acre campus on Lake of the Woods and benefit from unwavering care and stability, with an indefinite length of stay tailored to individual needs. Our serene lakeside campus offers a range of thoughtfully designed spaces to promote peace, dignity, and therapeutic benefit. Residents enjoy single-occupancy apartments and gourmet chef-prepared meals at Café Lakewood, with input from a registered dietician. The Lakewood Commons features the Zen Lounge sensory room, state-of-the-art music and art therapy studios, a teaching kitchen, and an education center for community gatherings. The Louis Walker Jr. Activity Center includes a computer lab, gaming consoles, and a lounge area. Our health center provides medical exam space, a medication room, and therapy offices. Outdoor spaces include a pavilion, park benches, and a year-round heated pool. Signature spaces like the Elm Lounge offer craft coffee, bistro seating, and an ADA-approved stage for open mic events, karaoke, and more. Every corner of our campus is crafted to enhance the well-being and community of our residents. Our work is rooted in the understanding that mental health recovery is complex and requires more than symptom management. Lakewood Center’s extended care model offers 24-hour residential care that includes comprehensive therapeutic interventions, skill-building, vocational training, and community engagement opportunities. By focusing on mental, emotional, and social well-being, we ensure that our residents receive the support they need to not only survive but to thrive. Our Care Coordination approach ensures that all aspects of an individual's care are seamlessly integrated to promote mental, emotional, and practical stability. The Lakewood team works closely with residents to understand their unique needs and goals, crafting tailored interventions that address both immediate challenges and long-term wellness. Our program is carefully created based on resident feedback and clinical recommendation. We blend a variety of therapeutic, education, social, and recreational activities into each day offering residents opportunity to connect, learn new skills, and achieve their personal level of independence. Our on-campus amenities and central location also allow us to incorporate enriching activities and supported community outings into the schedule. Some group activities include: • Monthly community meetings at which residents participate in planning upcoming activities and give feedback on living at Lakewood Center • Fitness program with certified trainer and monthly gym membership • On-campus fitness activities such as yoga, basketball, and water aerobics • Computer lab • Art therapy • Music therapy (Social Singers Club) • Cooking classes • Therapeutic group therapy which includes processing, stress management, anger management, healthy relationship skills, communication, life and coping skills • Job Club, allows residents to work on-campus to gain self-esteem and confidence while earning minimum wage and learning a useful employable skill • Boat rides & fishing • Community outings to the beach, parks, museums, local attractions and special events In Central Florida, Lakewood is the only non-government funded, not-for-profit, long-term residential treatment facility for adults with chronic mental illness. Residents at Lakewood hail from 16 counties in Florida and 19 other states. Donations are used to fund our work program, therapy and activity programs, and to provide scholarships to families who cannot afford the entire cost of treatment for their loved ones. Successful management of chronic mental illness requires a lifetime of treatment, and the expense involved becomes a burden on the families. Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, homelessness, incarceration, hospitalization, addiction, and suicide. • Mental illness, more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease, is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. in those between the ages of 15-44. • 1 in 25 adults live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. • One-half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, three-quarters by age 24. Lakewood's programs are licensed by the State of Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) as Residential Treatment Facilities (RTF). Lakewood Center is a member of the Mental Health Association and the American Residential Treatment Association (ARTA).