Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily.
Hi Lily, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Lily Maina, and I am the founder of GrowthBridge Behavioral Health & Family Services, a division of Forever A Meaningful Intent of Loving You LLC.
Originally from Kenya, I have always been passionate about helping people. That passion grew from personal experiences long before I entered the behavioral health field. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the challenges families face when caring for loved ones with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Later in life, I became a caregiver for my own brother, who lived with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability. Walking alongside him through both the victories and the struggles gave me a deep understanding of how important compassionate, person-centered care truly is.
Over the past 14 years, I’ve worked in behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability services, autism support, home care, and family services. Along the way, I earned my Master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and became a Licensed Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania. I am also completing my Doctorate in Educational Leadership because I believe learning never stops.
My journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Like many entrepreneurs, I have experienced personal loss, financial challenges, and significant life transitions while raising my daughter as a single mother. One of the most difficult experiences was losing my brother, whose life continues to inspire everything I do today. Instead of allowing those experiences to define me, I chose to let them strengthen my purpose.
Building GrowthBridge has been one of the biggest challenges and greatest blessings of my life. I didn’t want to create just another behavioral health company—I wanted to build an organization where families feel heard, children are supported, adults receive services with dignity, and providers know they have someone who genuinely cares.
Today, GrowthBridge offers behavioral health services, non-medical home care, supervised visitation and family monitoring, and ODP Certified Investigator services throughout Pennsylvania. Every service we provide is rooted in compassion, professionalism, integrity, and a belief that every individual deserves opportunities to grow and thrive.
What keeps me motivated is knowing that behind every referral, every investigation, every family meeting, and every behavioral support plan is a real person whose life can be positively impacted. My goal has never been to simply build a successful business. My goal is to build a legacy of service that improves lives, strengthens families, and creates opportunities for people who often feel overlooked.
As GrowthBridge continues to grow, I hope it becomes known not only for the quality of its services, but for the heart behind everything we do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has reinforced why I started this journey.
Like many entrepreneurs, one of the biggest obstacles has been building a business while balancing personal responsibilities. As a single mother, I’ve had to wear many hats—parent, student, healthcare professional, and business owner—all at the same time. There have been moments where I questioned whether I could keep moving forward, but giving up was never an option because I knew the impact I wanted to make.
I’ve also experienced significant personal loss. Losing my brother, who lived with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability, was one of the most difficult moments of my life. Caring for him taught me compassion, patience, and the importance of advocating for individuals who are often misunderstood. His life continues to inspire the mission behind GrowthBridge.
Starting a healthcare business also comes with challenges that many people don’t see. There are licensing requirements, credentialing with insurance companies, regulatory compliance, hiring the right team, and building trust within the community. Much of the work happens behind the scenes long before you ever serve your first client. There were times when it felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back, but I learned that persistence is one of the most valuable qualities an entrepreneur can have.
Financially, building a business from the ground up has required sacrifice. Like many small business owners, I continued working while investing my own time and resources into creating the systems, policies, and programs needed to provide high-quality services. It wasn’t always easy, but I viewed every challenge as an investment in the future of the organization.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that success isn’t about avoiding obstacles—it’s about continuing to move forward despite them. Every challenge has made me a stronger leader, a better provider, and a more compassionate person. Today, those experiences allow me to better understand the families and individuals we serve because I know firsthand that difficult seasons can also become the foundation for something meaningful.
We’ve been impressed with GrowthBridge Behavioral Health & Family Services A Division of Forever A Meaningful Intent of Loving You LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
GrowthBridge Behavioral Health & Family Services was founded with one simple belief: every person deserves compassionate, high-quality support that empowers them to reach their full potential. We are a Pennsylvania-based behavioral health and human services organization dedicated to strengthening individuals, families, and communities through personalized, person-centered care.
Our services are intentionally designed to meet people where they are in life. We provide behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults, including behavioral assessments, behavior support planning, family coaching, school consultation, emotional regulation support, social skills development, and life skills training. We also offer non-medical home care services that help seniors and adults with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life.
One area that makes GrowthBridge unique is that we also provide ODP Certified Investigator Services for provider agencies across Pennsylvania. As an ODP Certified Investigator, I conduct independent investigations involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring incidents are reviewed thoroughly, objectively, and in compliance with state regulations. In addition, we offer supervised visitation and family monitoring services, helping families navigate difficult transitions while keeping the safety and well-being of children at the center of every interaction.
What truly sets GrowthBridge apart is that we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all services. Every individual has a unique story, and every family has different needs. We take time to listen, collaborate, and develop practical solutions that respect each person’s strengths, culture, goals, and circumstances. We strive to build relationships based on trust, compassion, professionalism, and accountability.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that GrowthBridge was built from lived experience as much as professional experience. My work has been shaped by years in behavioral health, my education, my role as a caregiver for my late brother who lived with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability, and my desire to create an organization where people feel genuinely supported and valued. Those experiences remind me every day that behind every referral, assessment, investigation, or care plan is a person and a family who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Although we are still growing, our vision is ambitious. We hope to become a trusted resource for families, schools, healthcare providers, residential programs, and community organizations throughout Pennsylvania. Whether we are helping a child succeed at school, supporting an older adult to remain safely at home, assisting a family through supervised visitation, or ensuring accountability through independent investigations, our goal is always the same: to bridge the gap between challenges and meaningful opportunities for growth.
Our mission is reflected in our name—GrowthBridge. We believe that with the right support, guidance, and partnership, every individual and every family has the potential to grow, heal, and thrive.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, I was naturally curious, compassionate, and always drawn to helping others. Even as a child, I found myself wanting to understand people, encourage others, and lend a helping hand whenever I could. Looking back, those early instincts were the foundation of the career and mission I have today.
Faith played a significant role in my upbringing. Church wasn’t just something we attended—it was part of who we were as a family. Every Sunday, without fail, we were there, usually sitting together in the front row. Some of my favorite childhood memories come from those mornings. As I grew older, I became actively involved in youth ministry, participating in church activities that taught me the importance of leadership, service, teamwork, and giving back to the community. Those experiences instilled values that continue to guide both my personal life and my work today.
School was another place where I loved being involved. I enjoyed learning and participating in extracurricular activities, especially music and drama, which helped me become more confident and expressive. I was also proud to play basketball for my school’s team. Sports taught me discipline, resilience, and how to work toward a common goal—lessons that have continued to serve me throughout my career and as a business owner.
One of the most defining influences in my life was growing up with a brother who lived with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability. Watching my family care for him and later becoming one of his caregivers profoundly shaped the way I see people. It taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of treating every individual with dignity and respect, regardless of the challenges they face. Long before I knew I would work in behavioral health, those experiences were quietly shaping my purpose.
Education was always important to me because I believed it was a pathway to creating opportunities—not only for myself but also for others. That belief eventually led me to pursue psychology, behavioral health, and now a doctorate in Educational Leadership. I have always been someone who enjoys learning, growing, and finding ways to better serve the people around me.
When I reflect on my childhood, I realize it wasn’t any one experience that defined me, it was the combination of faith, family, service, education, and community. Those experiences taught me to lead with compassion, work hard with integrity, and remain hopeful even during life’s most difficult seasons. Today, those same values are woven into every part of GrowthBridge Behavioral Health & Family Services and continue to shape the way I serve individuals, families, and communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.growthbridgebhfs.com
