NAMI Collier County is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. These funds will support the HUGS Children’s Mental Health Program, allowing NAMI Collier to hire a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to provide clinical guidance and stop-gap therapy to at-risk children living with mental illness.
“So many of the children and teens we serve through our HUGS program face months-long delays in being able to start therapy for a wide range of reasons. Some need to jump through hurdles with their insurance approval process, while others need specialized therapy with limited providers in the area and long wait lists. By hiring an LCSW, NAMI Collier will be able to provide short-term therapy to bridge that gap, making sure children get the early interventions they need to promote long-term wellbeing,” explained Beth Hatch, CEO of NAMI Collier County.
The HUGS program provides a clinical continuum of care to children and teens with mental illness, social-emotional difficulties, and developmental delays. Program staff help families navigate the community resources they need to support their children’s wellbeing, provide in-home support, and make sure struggling parents know that they are not alone in this journey.
The Collier Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Foundation’s discretionary funds. These funds were gifted by donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to mobilize resources to address the community’s greatest needs.
