Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation receives $230,000 Grant to Expand Pediatric Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Services

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation has received a $230,000 grant from Simply Healthcare Foundation to expand New Solutions: A Pediatric Mental Health Treatment and Suicide Prevention Program that helps children and families access timely mental health services outside of a traditional hospital setting.

The three-year grant, which began on July 1, will help New Solutions serve 267 individuals while addressing a critical gap between emergency psychiatric treatment and less acute, coordinated community-based care.

Children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis are often brought to the emergency department but may not always meet the medical criteria for hospital admission or an involuntary examination under Florida’s Baker Act. Through New Solutions, eligible patients can receive the support they need right away, with the option of receiving therapy at home, in school and connected to their daily lives.

“This grant allows us to reach more children and families with the right level of care when they need it most. By providing a direct connection to behavioral health services, we can help families navigate a difficult moment and begin building a path toward long-term well-being,” said Tim Curtin, vice president of Community Services at Memorial Healthcare System.

Patients are referred directly by the hospital’s emergency department care coordination team. When a child or adolescent is assessed and does not require hospitalization or a Baker Act but clearly needs behavioral health support, the team provides an immediate and seamless handoff to New Solutions. The goal is to connect the family to services within 24 hours.

New Solutions provides four to six months of support from a full-time therapist and case manager who can offer individualized attention and help families participate in and stay connected to treatment. Services may be provided in the home or at school and can include care coordination, family support and referrals to parenting groups and other community resources.

“New Solutions is supported through philanthropic funding. The program is designed to remove barriers to care, increase participation in treatment and reduce the need for involuntary holds in cases where a less restrictive level of support is appropriate,” said Marilyn Camerota, senior director of Community Services at Memorial Healthcare System. “We are proud to support a program that brings accessible mental health resources directly to children and families while helping them remain connected to their homes, schools and communities.”

The funding will also help New Solutions expand its capacity and raise awareness about the mental health resources available to families.

The announcement comes during Suicide Prevention Month, observed each September to encourage open conversations about mental health and connect individuals with potentially lifesaving resources.