Philanthropy at the Forefront—This Time Addressing America’s Pediatric Mental Health Crisis
Philanthropy is increasingly bridging the gap between slow-moving government programs and profit-driven private enterprise, recently best seen in the realm of children's mental health. As public systems grapple with resource constraints and the private sector often overlooks unprofitable areas, philanthropic initiatives are stepping in to address the urgent mental health needs of young people across the United States.
The urgency for such interventions is underscored by alarming statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that autism diagnoses among U.S. children have reached a record high, with 1 in 31 children affected in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020. Additionally, a CDC survey indicates that approximately 76.1% of teenagers experience at least one form of family trouble, such as domestic violence or substance abuse, which significantly contributes to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was the second leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 14. In the years since, mental health-related emergency room visits have increased dramatically, further straining limited pediatric psychiatric resources. The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a national emergency in children’s mental health.
Recognizing the escalating crisis, donors and foundations are stepping up in significant ways:
In Los Angeles, Gene and Mindy Stein, through their Tikun Olam Foundation, recently committed $25 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. This gift will establish the Stein Tikun Olam Early Connections Program, aimed at providing trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health care to infants and toddlers receiving specialized medical treatment. The initiative will train clinicians, develop scalable care models, and disseminate best practices to other pediatric institutions nationwide .
In Omaha, Nebraska, Children’s Nebraska has broken ground on a $114 million Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, set to open in early 2026. The 107,000-square-foot facility will more than double current inpatient pediatric psychiatric bed capacity. It includes a Crisis Assessment Center, outpatient services, day treatment for eating disorders and substance use, family therapy, and more. The initiative is committed to a “no wrong door” policy—ensuring that any youth under age 19 who seeks help is seen regardless of circumstances.
YourMomCares, a nonprofit founded by celebrity mothers, awarded a $100,000 grant to the Schools Unified in Neurodiversity (SUN) project, which trains educators to support neurodivergent children—who have a suicide rate four times that of their neurotypical peers.
In Connecticut, the Child Health and Development Institute is advancing restorative behavioral health practices in schools. Instead of suspensions, children are offered support through therapeutic responses, aiming to correct behavior while strengthening student-teacher relationships.
Investments in children’s mental health services can yield transformational outcomes. Early interventions have been linked to improved academic performance, lower dropout rates, and reduced involvement in juvenile justice systems. Enhanced school-based support systems lead to higher emotional resilience, lower absenteeism, and stronger peer relationships. Moreover, family-focused therapy and community-based support can prevent the escalation of mental health issues into adulthood.
These initiatives are not only compassionate—they are strategic, scalable, and urgently necessary. As more families face unprecedented mental health challenges, philanthropy will continue to play a defining role in building the infrastructure, capacity, and innovation needed to respond.
Philanthropy, across so many sectors through the vast geography of America, is not just participating in solving crises—it is leading the charge. In the absence of adequate public funding and limited commercial interest, philanthropists are making bold investments that are changing the trajectory many vital parts of our communities…ones that need it desperately.
