Hollywood, Fla. – September 30, 2026 -- Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation has secured a $230,000 grant from Simply Healthcare Foundation to expand New Solutions, a pediatric mental health treatment and suicide prevention program, over the next three years.
Grant funds care for 267 individuals over three years
The three-year grant began July 1 and will allow New Solutions to serve 267 individuals, targeting the gap between emergency psychiatric treatment and community-based behavioral health care. The program addresses children and adolescents who arrive at the emergency department in crisis but do not meet medical criteria for hospital admission or an involuntary examination under Florida's Baker Act.
Emergency department team refers patients within 24 hours
Patients are referred directly by the hospital's emergency department care coordination team once assessed as needing behavioral health support but not hospitalization. The program aims to connect families to services within 24 hours of referral, providing four to six months of support from a full-time therapist and case manager. Services are delivered in homes or schools and include care coordination, family support and referrals to parenting groups and other community resources.
Program leaders cite reduced reliance on involuntary holds
"This grant allows us to reach more children and families with the right level of care when they need it most," said Tim Curtin, Vice President of Community Services at Memorial Healthcare System. Marilyn Camerota, Senior Director of Community Services at Memorial Healthcare System, said the program is designed to remove barriers to care, increase treatment participation and reduce the need for involuntary holds when less restrictive support is appropriate.
Funding also expands capacity and outreach
The grant will additionally support expanded program capacity and increased awareness of the mental health resources available to families. The announcement was made during Suicide Prevention Month, observed each September.