[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 106 (Friday, June 20, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING PATRINA M. LAWRENCE AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL 
                  FLORIDA FOR CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Patrina M. Lawrence is a dynamic and 
accomplished executive who has made a lasting impact on Florida's Ninth 
Congressional District through her leadership in behavioral health and 
social services. As the founder and chief executive officer of Serving 
Children and Reaching Families (SCARF), a community-based mental health 
organization headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida, Ms. Lawrence has led 
efforts to deliver high-quality, culturally responsive, and trauma-
informed care to children and families across Central Florida since 
2013.
  Guided by the belief that ``safety and security don't just happen--
they are the result of collective consensus and public investment,'' as 
Nelson Mandela once said, Ms. Lawrence has dedicated her career to 
building systems that protect and uplift the most vulnerable. Through 
SCARF, she has expanded access to mental health services, secured 
funding from the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of 
Health, and Osceola County Schools, and fostered long-standing 
partnerships with the Department of Children and Families and regional 
managing entities.
  Through an eight-year partnership with the Florida Department of 
Children and Families, Ms. Lawrence was instrumental in creating a 
diversion program that has helped strengthen families and successfully 
diverted over 500 children annually from entering the foster care 
system. A licensed clinical social worker and seasoned clinician, Ms. 
Lawrence has provided direct care and clinical oversight to hundreds of 
clients. She has authored SCARF's operational policies and training 
curricula, helping to elevate standards across Florida's behavioral 
health workforce. Her work has not only improved outcomes but also 
ensured service fidelity and compliance with state regulations.
  Ms. Lawrence holds an advanced degree in social work from Howard 
University and has completed executive education at Harvard University 
in leadership, business strategy, and public health equity. Her work 
embodies a commitment to access, quality, and innovation in behavioral 
health for Florida's most vulnerable populations.

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