Nancy Sanchez

The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center announces that Nancy Sanchez, Director of Social Services, has officially become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a significant milestone in her professional journey and a tremendous asset to the Harlem Heights community.

“We are incredibly proud of Nancy for achieving this milestone,” said Kathryn Kelly, Founder, President, and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. “Her dedication and hard work allow us to expand our support services, ensuring our community members receive the highest quality mental health care. Nancy’s licensure further strengthens The Heights Foundation’s mission to build strong, self-sufficient families in Harlem Heights by providing essential resources and professional support. Her expertise will enhance the Foundation’s outreach and counseling programs, directly impacting the well-being of individuals and families in need.”

Sanchez’s path to licensure was marked by dedication and rigorous training. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Florida Gulf Coast University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Barry University in 2013. She subsequently completed two years of post-master’s supervised experience under the mentorship of an LCSW. She accumulated her clinical hours while working part-time at a mental health clinic, The Traveling Therapist, and Catholic Charities Family Counseling Center providing clinical therapy as a Master’s level clinician to children, adolescents, adults, and families of different cultures.

To meet licensure requirements, Sanchez completed 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients, 100 hours of supervision over no less than 100 weeks, and one hour of supervision every two weeks. Additionally, she fulfilled all state-mandated coursework, including an eight-hour Florida Laws & Rules course, a three-hour HIV/AIDS course, a two-hour Domestic Violence course. She successfully passed the national clinical-level examination developed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), solidifying her expertise in the field.

Sanchez, who is bilingual, joined The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center in 2012 as a part-time intern and Programs Assistant when she was attending Barry University. She was hired as a full-time Programs Coordinator upon her graduation in 2013 providing support to families in need of services including Automated Community Connection to Economic Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) and other resources that assist with basic needs. In addition, she facilitated character education groups for students in kindergarten and first grade at The Heights Charter School. In 2022, she was named Director of Social Services.

For more information about The Heights Foundation and its programs, please visit heightsfoundation.org or call 239-482-7706.

About The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center

The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. Our mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts.

The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment. Heights Early Learning serves more than 85 babies through 4 years old. The Heights Center serves 170 children in AfterSchool and 153 children in SummerCamp. The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 210 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 79% Hispanic, 15% African-American, and 6% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.