DeAnna Warren
Founder
founder & Provider
Over 25 years of experience
DeAnna was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her early life experiences shaped her deep compassion and understanding of the challenges families face.
With over 25 years in social services, DeAnna has worked with youth, families, and adults across a wide range of circumstances—from early childhood education to corrections, and later through her 15+ years with Goodwill Industries’ Mission Advancement. She also served as a provider for Indiana’s Child Mental Health Wraparound Program before establishing LILAC.
DeAnna holds a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University and multiple certifications, including Community Health Worker, ACES Master Trainer, Financial Health Counselor, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Therapeutic Art Life Coaching. She believes in using love, creativity, and compassion to empower individuals and families to build resilience and lasting change.
Testimonials
Real Experiences. Real Impact.
Henrietta Day
June 2025
DeAnna is one of those rare people who brings both heart and skill to everything she does. For over 20 years, I’ve seen her lead with compassion, follow through with excellence, and consistently show up for youth and families in meaningful ways. She’s played a key role in organizing impactful events, facilitating parent training, preparing care packages for the homeless, and helping make our Adopt-a-Teen Christmas program a success year after year.
What makes DeAnna special is her ability to connect-with kids, families, and caregivers. She’s kind, creative, dependable, and always finds thoughtful ways to teach, uplift, and support. Through LILAC, she’s continuing the same powerful work, and I truly believe anyone who works with her is in good hands.
CMHW Facilitator
April 2024
I’ve worked with DeAnna for almost two years now with a shared kid and I have been grateful to have her on my team. She is great with her communication. DeAnna has a calm demeanor that I feel is really helpful in her connection with her kids. DeAnna is able to be calm but also has expectations and is able to redirect others when needed in a firm but kind manner. The kid she met with on our team always looked forward to sessions. DeAnna makes great connections with families and is able to help support them towards transition so that they are able to do these things and advocate for themselves. I appreciate working with DeAnna and hope to have her on another one of my wraparound teams soon!
Habilitation and Respite Parent
June 2021
DeAnna was the Habilitation (Mentor) and Respite provider for our teen son for almost 2 years. She was the last of several unsuccessful attempts with providers. Our son looked forward to his sessions with DeAnna and always returned home with a calm and approachable demeanor afterwards. He learned many skills from his time with DeAnna. She taught him skills in environments of his interest that kept him engaged. Our son successfully completed the wraparound program with the help of DeAnna and other team members. We are forever grateful!
FST Parent
May 2024
I really appreciate the hard work that was put in for our family. We overcame many obstacles and are function better as a unit. DeAnna is amazing!
Habilitation Teen
October 2016
DeAnna showed me the world and changed my life. I really liked our sessions.
Habilitation Teen
May 2015
I love my mentor. I can talk to her about anything. She is nice, sweet, and easy going. She is also silly. We have good times together. I hope that we stay friends after the program.
Habilitation Teen
November 2015
My mentor is great! We go to batting cages, play basketball, go on nature walks, visit the YMCA, do puzzles, walk around the mall, visit festivals, go to parks and more. I like my mentor because we just don’t do worksheets. She teaches me stuff while we are having fun.
Habilitation Parent
March 2023
My daughter is a different person when DeAnna is around. She’s polite, she listens, and follows directions. I’ve seen my child transform into a different person during the time that DeAnna was her mentor. I would recommend DeAnna to any family with a child that is in need of services.
Also, my daughter loves art and she brought home many art projects that she did during her time with DeAnna.
DeAnn Day
June 2025
DeAnna does beautiful work, and I’ve seen firsthand how much thought she puts into everything she creates. She’s done face painting at events, led fun wine and canvas nights, and created personalized gifts for me and my loved ones—all with so much care and creativity. She’s made custom shirts, masks, socks—even outfits for my grand-dog—and each one felt special because of how she tailored it to fit the person (or pet!). She also helped me create a framed art piece as a housewarming gift, and it turned out beautifully. Her gift baskets feel so personal too. They’re not just nice to look at—they truly feel like they were made with you in mind, which makes it even more meaningful. On top of all that, DeAnna is warm, friendly, and easy to work with. If you’ve got an idea and want someone to bring it to life in a thoughtful way, DeAnna is the one to call.
Sekhem Institute Executive Director
June 2025
I invited Lifting in Love and Compassion (LILAC) to lead several art therapy sessions for our youth program. DeAnna was very professional, organized, timely, and she communicated well. The children loved her…she was creative in how she kept them engaged, her tone was always gentle, and she was patient, empathetic, and encouraging with the kids. Her curriculum is amazing! She did such a wonderful job explaining the benefits of each component of the crafting activity to a person’s mental health. She has a client for life with me. Thank you LILAC!