Melissa Larkin-Skinner

Melissa Larkin-Skinner, MA, MBA, LMHC, is regional CEO of Centerstone in Florida. As a licensed mental health counselor, Larkin-Skinner has worked with children and adults of all ages in diverse mental health and substance use prevention and treatment programs. During the past 26 years she has designed and operated innovative programs to meet community needs. Her career in behavioral health began as a volunteer on Centerstone’s rape crisis team. It was there that Larkin-Skinner learned the essence and potential of advocacy and speaking out about mental health and substance use stigma. Today, she regularly provides state and federal policy feedback and engages in legislative advocacy as a mental health and addiction subject matter expert. She is board chair for the Florida Behavioral Health Association. Through her advocacy efforts, Larkin-Skinner works with public and private sectors to increase knowledge of and access to mental health care and substance use treatment services. The belief that “everyone in our community has a role to play” is her driving force. In August 2016, she received the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association Administrator of the Year award for her efforts toward combating the opioid epidemic. Larkin-Skinner currently serves as the only behavioral health provider on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission and was recently appointed to the Florida Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commission.