Thriving Mind South Florida

Thriving Mind is proud to share new research led by Dr. Steve Proctor, published in Community Mental Health Journal, examining the real-world impact of Mobile Response Teams (MRTs) in Miami-Dade County, operated by our partners at The Village South/WestCare.

The findings—from nearly 2,000 children and adults across a 12-month period—demonstrate that community-based mobile crisis response teams divert the majority of behavioral health emergencies away from psychiatric hospitalization, while still meeting state standards for timely, in-person care. Specifically, nearly two-thirds of behavioral health crises were diverted from hospitalization, and 95% of responses were delivered in-person with an average response time under 60 minutes. The implications extend well beyond South Florida, with relevance for crisis systems across the state of Florida as well as nationally.

Article available at: https://rdcu.be/fpgpS

WestCare The Village South, Inc.

The Passageway Mental Health Expo on May 9, 2026 brought together providers, stakeholders, and community members for a day centered on connection, collaboration, and community well‑being. Representing Thriving Mind, Derek Moore and Isabella “Izzy” Lopez participated alongside Passageway, and many of our valued provider partners.
The expo featured a vibrant mix of mental health resources, engaging conversations, and opportunities to strengthen relationships across the network. Attendees enjoyed great food, meaningful fellowship, and a shared commitment to supporting one another in the work of improving community mental health.
The event served as a powerful reminder of the impact that collective effort can have. It reinforced the importance of continued collaboration as we work together toward a healthier, more connected community.

Recently, Thriving Mind hosted a 3-day Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Training. A special shout out to , Community Health of South Florida, Inc. , Jackson Health System and Thriving Mind team members who participated & to Adele, the wonderful trainer from Stars Academy.

Thriving Mind's CEO, Laura Naredo, visited Gang Alternative, Inc. We are proud to partner with GA as one of our Network Service Providers for Prevention services. Laura had the opportunity to visit several of GA's locations where they impact a great number of youth in our community. Gang Alternative, Inc.

Thank you to the Thriving Mind Contract Management team for this lunch and learn where our staff had the opportunity to learn about all of the incredible group this team does.

Thriving Mind team members Eric Robinson and Megan Hobson, Peer Victim Advocate Specialists, were invited to present at the Aventura Police Department's Crisis Response Education, Safety, and Training (CREST) which is designed to equip first responders to respond to individuals safely and effectively in crisis situations, including those experiencing mental health or behavioral health emergencies. Their presentation provided an overview of the services provided through our network.

Thriving Mind CEO, Laura Naredo, attended Miami's Ball to End Homelessness which raises funds for Hermanos de la Calle, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families transition from homelessness to stable housing in Miami. The Homeless Trust

Thriving Mind's CEO, Laura Naredo and Nivia Dexter, VP of Data Performance and Technology recently visited our Network Provider, Westcare-The Village South. We are proud of the incredible and innovative work that we continue to work on collaboratively to serve the individuals and families in need of our services in our community. The Village South, Inc. WestCare