Kids’ Minds Matter has been awarded a $225,000 multi-year gift from Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to sustain its highly impactful Mental Health Navigator Program. The funding, distributed over three years beginning in 2026, will ensure continuity of care for families facing mental and behavioral health challenges across Southwest Florida.
The Mental Health Navigator Program launched as a pilot in 2020, the result of a leadership gift from Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, and has since grown into a robust, regional model for behavioral health support. Today, it includes 10 navigators embedded in public schools, pediatric practices and community organizations, serving some of the region’s most vulnerable children and families.
“I feel deeply fulfilled knowing that my work helps families heal and grow together,” said Farren Williams, mental health navigator at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “It’s incredible to witness the resilience that can emerge when individuals receive the support they need. Helping families navigate their challenges and improve their relationships is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”
Navigators are experienced caregivers of individuals with serious emotional stressors who provide peer mentoring, resource referrals and personalized guidance through the complex mental health system. They help families access basic needs, like food and rental assistance, while also connecting them to long-term behavioral health care. The navigators do not provide therapy, but serve as trusted guides, breaking down barriers to care.
In just the last two fiscal quarters, the Mental Health Navigator Program served 158 children across 79 families. Since inception, it has supported more than 564 children and 846 individuals in total. Top concerns addressed include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder and aggressive behaviors. The average length of support for each family is 254 days, or roughly 8.5 months, illustrating the intensive, wraparound nature of the program. Despite growing demand, reflected in a constant waitlist, participants have experienced significant improvements, such as:
– School attendance improved by 54%.
– Academic performance increased by an average of two grade levels.
– Baker Act hospitalizations reduced by 50%.
– Classroom disruptions significantly decreased.
“Attending to the mental health of youth and families is paramount to health and wellness. When we address the issues of mental health, we raise the standard of life for all of those in our communities. We take great pride in this program and are proud to work with Lee Health in an effort to bring a deeper understanding of mental health issues to those in need. This program is mission aligned for both organizations, and we are proud to support these efforts,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Suncoast Credit Union.
Their continued partnership pushes Suncoast Credit Union’s total impact on Lee Health’s programs to nearly $3 million.
To learn more about the Mental Health Navigator Program and other mental and behavioral health initiatives, visit KidsMindsMatter.com.
About Kids’ Minds Matter
Founded in 2016, Kids’ Minds Matter is Southwest Florida’s strategic solution to addressing our region’s mental health epidemic and advancing pediatric mental and behavioral health services. With a focus on developing clinical pathways to screen and treat patients, enhancing public awareness through education, and lobbying for systemic change and sustainable funding, Kids’ Minds Matter fosters collaboration with mental health providers and child advocates, social workers and care navigators, the judicial system, law enforcement, schools and faith-based organizations to improve access to care and meet the needs of the community. Kids’ Minds Matter is managed through Lee Health Foundation and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Visit KidsMindsMatter.com or call 239-343-6950 for more information.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $18.8 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 79 full-service branches and serves more than 1.2 million members. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. Additionally, membership is open to public school teachers, college educators and educational support staff throughout the entire state of Florida.
Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $53 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
