David Lawrence Centers Receives Gift

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC), Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit behavioral health provider, is pleased to announce it has received a $4 million gift from Collier County philanthropists Jeffrey and Julie Diermeier. 

This generous gift will support the creation of the Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center, a key component of DLC’s Hope for Collier: Building Stronger Minds Together initiative. Once completed, the Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center will allow DLC to expand access to its evidence-based care to more adults in Southwest Florida. 

“As Collier County continues to grow, so does the demand for services,” said Scott Burgess, the chief executive officer at DLC. “From a young mother facing postpartum depression to the veteran fighting the trauma of war, DLC has been there providing lifesaving care to individuals across our community. Thousands of lives have been transformed through our services, and the Diermeier generous support will ensure that community members in need have the chance to find their way back to stability, strength and, most importantly, hope.”

The Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center will be located in the footprint of what is now the Administration Building on DLC’s main campus on Bathey Lane in Naples. The new center, combined with the Collier County Behavioral Health Center, serves as foundation for the next phase of expansion and innovation for the entire system. 

The state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot building will allow DLC to provide timely care to community members in need. A unique walk-in behavioral health center, offering urgent care without an appointment, the center will offer integrated services, allowing individuals to see their mental health and primary care providers in one location, complemented by the ability to fill prescriptions at a separate, on-campus pharmacy. The center will include a variety of services and programs, including: 

• Urgent Care/Convenient Care model with onsite and telehealth options 
• Real time behavioral health intervention and assessment with no appointment required
• Intensive outpatient drug treatment 
• Integrated mental health and physical health outpatient programming 
• Medication assisted treatment for those struggling with substance use disorders 
• Trauma focused therapy for veterans, including Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy 

The center will also support workforce development and training activities, such as training rooms, clinical group and individual counseling spaces designed to allow observation for clinical supervision and training of nursing, counseling and social work interns.

“We truly believe in the mission of David Lawrence Centers and are proud to support this incredible initiative to provide hope and care for those in need in our community. We appreciate organizations like Greater Naples Leadership and the Collier Community Foundation that initially brought David Lawrence Centers to our attention several years ago,” said Jeff Diermeier. “This is not just another initiative; it’s a movement to build a future where everyone has access to the behavioral health care they need, when they need it. Together, we can build a stronger system of care.”

Jeff Diermeier is the past president and CEO of CFA Institute and the former global chief investment officer at UBS Global Asset Management. Jeff and Julie serve as trustees of the Diermeier Family Foundation and are involved with a number of not-for-profits in Collier County, the Chicago area and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In addition to supporting construction costs, the Diermeiers’ generous gift will support DLC’s Best-In-Class initiative. Their contribution will support DLC’s ability to recruit and retain adult client practitioners who work within the center. 

DLC’s Best-In-Class initiative is aimed at reducing the ratio of people in need to providers and 

improving the recruitment and retention of highly trained and experienced staff. 

DLC also received $5 million as part of Florida’s fiscal 2024-25 budget to support the creation of the access and integrated care center. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples resident and avid DLC supporter, was critical in securing this legislative appropriation.

“We are extremely grateful to the Diermeiers, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and the entire Florida Legislature for their support of this critical community project that will transform the way we are able to offer care,” said Burgess. “Right now, Collier County is facing the worst mental health and substance use crisis in our history. Mental health issues are affecting one in four children and adults in our community, while one in seven individuals are struggling with substance use. But these are more than just numbers – they are the real lives of our family, friends, neighbors and colleagues, experiencing real crisis and heartbreak. At DLC, we remain committed to building a future with the critical resources to meet the mental health needs of every individual in our community.”

Construction of the Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center is expected to begin in 2025.