Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery (First Step)

What Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery (First Step) does

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. The organization provides a comprehensive, integrated continuum of mental health and substance use disorder treatment across five physical campuses in Sarasota County, including a 37-bed designated Public Baker Act Crisis Stabilization Unit (Kreisman CSU), a 40-bed RESTORE jail diversion program for male offenders, 62 funded detox beds, multiple state-funded residential programs (Seasons, Mothers & Infants, Choices, Crossroads, Pathways), an outpatient suite, an Intensive Outpatient Program, telehealth, and a 24/7 Mobile Response Team. Treatment is grounded in evidence-based modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Medication-Assisted Treatment (Suboxone and Vivitrol), Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT), and trauma-informed care. The organization operates a "No Wrong Door" intake philosophy anchored by a central crisis line (941-RECOVER) and walk-in access.

The organization serves a diverse clientele including adults with substance use disorders, adults with mental health conditions, individuals with co-occurring disorders, adolescents (via school-based programs and DFY), pregnant women and mothers (Mothers & Infants), forensic and felony populations (Choices, Crossroads, RESTORE, Drug Court), homeless individuals (VIP-ER partnership with Salvation Army), and individuals in acute psychiatric crisis (Baker Act receiving). CARF accreditation and 501(c)(3) status underpin its regulatory positioning.

Revenue is assembled from multiple streams: Florida Department of Children and Families state contracts for specific programs, Sarasota County funding (notably for RESTORE), SOR federal grants for MAT, third-party insurance billing (Medicaid and commercial), private pay at below-market rates with sliding scale, and philanthropic donations from major Florida foundations (Barancik, Selby, Flanzer, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Toulmin). A $4 million capital campaign is underwriting the No Wrong Door Initiative, with phase one (Walk-In Center) completed in October 2024 and a planned Detox Center groundbreaking in 2025. The CEO is Shawny Robey, supported by an executive team in operations, finance, project management, and development. The organization has 77 employees and is privately governed with no parent company, PE, or VC ownership.

Name

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery (First Step)

Legal name

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery, Inc.

Website

https://lightsharewellness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery is a Sarasota, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder treatment across five campuses, including a designated Baker Act crisis unit, jail diversion, residential, outpatient, and telehealth programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Healthcare Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Substance use treatment
• Mental health services
• Crisis stabilization services
• Behavioral health programs
• Medication assisted treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts & State Funding: State-funded programs through the Florida Department of Children and Families, including Seasons (co-occurring treatment), Mothers & Infants, and Crossroads programs for DOC-involved clients. No cost to qualifying clients.
2. Health Insurance Billing: Accepts nearly all insurance providers including Medicaid and Commercial Insurance for services such as Crisis Stabilization Services, MAT, outpatient services, and BHRT mobile response.
3. Private Pay / Self-Pay: Private pay structure offered below market rates for individuals without insurance coverage. Flexible payment options including financing and payment plans.
4. Federal Grants: SOR (State Opioid Response) Grant funding for medication-assisted treatment programs including Suboxone services for opioid-dependent individuals meeting financial eligibility.
5. County Funding: Funding from Sarasota County for specialized programs such as the RESTORE jail diversion program providing 40 beds of residential behavioral health treatment for male offenders.
6. Philanthropic Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the nonprofit mission, including capital campaign contributions for facility expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery (First Step) is a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization providing comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder treatment in Sarasota County, Florida. Services include residential treatment, outpatient programs, crisis stabilization, medically supervised detoxification, and specialized programs for adolescents, pregnant women, criminal justice-involved individuals, and homeless populations. The organization functions as a designated Baker Act receiving facility and as the managing entity for publicly funded behavioral health services in the region.

Product overview

Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery is a behavioral healthcare organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of treatment programs and services for mental health and substance use disorders. The organization operates multiple programs including residential treatment (Choices, Crossroads, Seasons, Pathways, Mothers & Infants), crisis services (Crisis Stabilization Unit, Mobile Response Team, Access Center), outpatient services (Individual and Group Counseling, Outpatient Services, Medication Assisted Treatment), forensic programs (RESTORE, Forensic Case Management, Drug Court Services, Family Intervention Services), youth services (DFY, FLIP, School-Based Mental Health), and specialized programs (Substance Overdose Services, VIP-ER, Case Coordination, ARF/Detox). Services range from inpatient and residential care to intensive outpatient and telehealth options, serving diverse populations including adults, adolescents, children, pregnant women, and individuals with felony convictions. The organization follows a 'No Wrong Door' approach ensuring individuals are directed to appropriate level of care regardless of entry point.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crisis Stabilization Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 37-bed Crisis Stabilization Unit serving as the designated Baker Act receiving facility for Sarasota County adults
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIP-ER program partnership where Salvation Army provides housing and Lightshare provides substance abuse treatment services for individuals meeting homeless criteria. Located at the Salvation Army campus.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreOthersState funding for multiple programs including Seasons (co-occurring treatment), Mothers & Infants (residential for pregnant women), and Crossroads (DOC-involved females) at no cost to qualifying clients.
• Central Florida Behavioral Health NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional behavioral health network partner listed among Lightshare's community supporters.
• CARF InternationalminorOthersAccreditation organization for rehabilitation and human services. Listed among community partners indicating potential accreditation status.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health advocacy organization partner supporting awareness and services.
• Sarasota County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool-Based Mental Health program partnership where Lightshare therapists provide on-site treatment to middle school students referred by school counselors.
• Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location partner at 17th Street Campus where Lightshare operates Substance Overdose Services, First Baby Steps, and Outpatient Services.
• Southface InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability nonprofit providing GoodUse Grants to help nonprofits reduce operating costs through energy and water efficiency improvements.
• Sarasota County CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRESTORE program partnership with Sarasota County Corrections providing jail diversion and residential behavioral health treatment for male offenders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Centerstone: One of the largest nonprofit behavioral health providers in the U.S., offering residential, outpatient, and crisis services across multiple states. Comparable to Lightshare in mission-driven nonprofit model and full continuum of behavioral health services, though at significantly larger scale.
• Acadia Healthcare: Largest publicly traded pure-play behavioral health provider operating residential treatment centers and outpatient facilities nationwide. Comparable in service offerings (residential, outpatient, MAT) but as a scaled for-profit incumbent with significant Florida presence.
• Caron Treatment Centers: National nonprofit addiction treatment organization with residential and outpatient programs. Comparable service portfolio to Lightshare, particularly in evidence-based residential treatment and family programming, though at much larger geographic footprint.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: National nonprofit addiction treatment leader offering residential, outpatient, and recovery services. Comparable to Lightshare in providing evidence-based SUD treatment with a comprehensive continuum, but at a national scale with broader brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Gateway Foundation: Nonprofit addiction treatment provider serving multiple states with residential, outpatient, and MAT programs. Directly comparable to Lightshare in mission-driven nonprofit model, full SUD continuum, and significant government contract dependency.
• Phoenix Houses of Florida: Branch of the national Phoenix House nonprofit providing residential and outpatient addiction treatment in Florida. Comparable service model to Lightshare's residential programs, particularly for justice-involved populations.
• David Lawrence Center: Southwest Florida-based nonprofit behavioral health provider serving Collier County with residential, outpatient, and crisis services. Closest geographic and operational peer to Lightshare as a regional nonprofit with county-level government contracts and Baker Act receiving facility status.

Regional players

• Lakeview Health: Florida-based addiction treatment provider offering residential and outpatient programs with full continuum of care. Comparable to Lightshare in Florida-specific regional focus and comprehensive SUD treatment portfolio.
• SalusCare: Southwest Florida nonprofit behavioral health provider serving Lee County with similar program portfolio including residential, outpatient, crisis, and MAT services. Comparable to Lightshare in mission-driven nonprofit model and Florida regional focus.
• Turning Point of Tampa: Florida-based nonprofit addiction treatment provider offering residential and outpatient programs. Directly comparable to Lightshare in Florida-specific regional presence, nonprofit structure, and residential SUD treatment focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LightshareWellness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lightsharewellness
• Instagraminstagram.com/LightshareWellness

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery (First Step)