Derrick Stephens, LCSW

An advocate for vulnerable children and individuals living with a mental illness for the past 17 years, Mr. Stephens is dedicated to making sure that access to behavioral healthcare for foster youth and alumni are universal. Derrick Stephens is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and obtained a Masters of Social Work from the University of Central Florida. He is currently a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and is pursuing a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. His passion comes from his own personal journey of spending his childhood in the foster care system due to a drug and alcohol addicted mother who also was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and a father who committed suicide.

Mr. Stephens currently serves as the Project Director for Underdog Dream: Improving Long-Term Quality of Life Outcomes for Florida’s Foster Youth and Families. Working collaboratively, First Step Care and Florida Psychological Associates intend to empower Florida’s foster youth and families by consistently providing individualized evidence-based trauma informed care, enhanced care coordination, education and access to care that capitalizes on technology such as mixed reality and telemedicine. Mr. Stephens is also President and CEO of Phoenix Healthcare Consultants and serves as Vice President of Business Development for HealthPro Heritage.