Grants for Children for Psychiatric Care

Children's mental health is important and living with children who are severally emotionally disturbed can be painful and stressful for families. Funding from private, non-profits and government agencies is available to help families caring for a child with psychiatric disorders.

Significance

• According to SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children with serious emotional disturbances have higher rates of school failure because of the discrimination and stigma associated with mental health disorders. If problems are not treated they lead to more serious mental problems in adulthood. SAMSHA advises parents and communities to work together to recognize and treat children with mental illness early.

Types of Grants

• Private foundations' including the Viola W. Bernard Foundation awards grants to support innovative programs that address the interplay between social conditions and the psychological health of children and families. Rhode Island's Project Reach Grant offers counseling and home-based services for children and families. The federal government awards grants for children under 22-years-old diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance, serious behavioral disorder or serious mental disorder.

Additional Information

• States, including Illinois, provide Individual Care Grants for severely mentally ill children. Grants help parents to defray costs of residential treatment or special care. The majority of grants for psychiatric care are not individual grants. They are awarded to treatment facilities, hospitals or nonprofits working with mentally ill children. Contact the state department, and divisions of, mental health in your state to find funding options to help a child who needs psychiatric care.