NWF Health Network (NWF Health) serves as the Network Management agency for child welfare and substance abuse and mental health (behavioral health) services in northwest Florida. Our sole purpose is to provide the highest quality child welfare, substance abuse, and mental health services to children, adults, and their families within their communities through a managed network of accredited providers. We serve as a centralized source of resources and support for our community and agency partners. Our agency is far more than an administrative office, however. At NWF Health, we strive to develop relationships with our children and families so we can provide them with the individualized attention they need. At NWF Health, we believe that children have the right to grow up safe, healthy, and fulfilled in families that love and nurture them – and – that the children, adults, and elders in our communities deserve exceptional behavioral health services that meet their needs.
Guided by our vision to create local ownership and effective integration of the child welfare and behavioral health systems in each of our 18 communities, we believe that the quality of life for children, adults, and families we serve will dramatically improve, resulting in personal independence and stronger communities.
Serving: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
Mike Watkins, Chief Executive Offıcer
Mike Watkins serves as CEO of Northwest Florida Health Network, where he leads initiatives to improve child welfare, mental health, and substance abuse services on behalf of the State of Florida. Through this position, he has developed a deep understanding of local behavioral health needs and is a leader in responding to mental health and substance abuse crises that affect the community. Among his accomplishments was playing a central role in coordinating mental health services in the Florida Panhandle following the devastation of Hurricane Michael.
Watkins previously served as District 7 administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families. During his time in this role, he developed and maintained a network of community stakeholders to effectively promote public assistance programs pertaining to alcohol, drug abuse, mental health, developmental disabilities, child care, child welfare, and adult welfare. He also implemented a major legislative initiative to modernize the department’s public assistance program.