David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC), Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit behavioral health provider, is honored to announce it has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. This generous gift will support the creation of the Van Domelen Children’s Center of Excellence, a critical component of the Hope for Collier: Building Stronger Minds Together initiative being led by DLC.
“As Collier County continues to grow, our new Van Domelen Children’s Center will offer a lifeline for children and families in crisis,” said Scott Burgess, the chief executive officer at DLC. “This generous grant from NCEF represents a critical investment in Collier County’s future, ensuring that children and teens receive life-saving care when they need it most. This vital funding will allow DLC to double our capacity to care for young people experiencing behavioral health challenges in one place.”
With construction anticipated to begin in early 2027, the new two-story 31,000 square-foot Van Domelen Children’s Center of Excellence will include all children’s programming under one roof, incorporating a new 30-bed children’s crisis stabilization unit, which will double the capacity of the current DLC children’s unit. Children and families will also access triage services, partial hospitalization/day treatment, outpatient therapy and medication as well as intensive community-based care. The new children’s center will also include space for an expanded nursing, counseling and social work internship program as well as prevention and education programming for adults, children, families and the broader community.
“At NCEF, we are proud to support the growth of David Lawrence Centers in Collier County as they expand vital mental health services for children and families,” said Maria Jimenez-Lara, chief executive officer at Naples Children & Education Foundation. “Their dedication to providing comprehensive, high-quality care aligns with our mission to create lasting, positive change in the community. By investing in their growth, we are ensuring that more children have access to the support they need to thrive—both in school and in life.”
The NCEF grant will provide funding for programmatic equipment and materials to support the Van Domelen Children’s Center and help DLC expand facilities, enhance services and strengthen its workforce. With suicide as the second leading cause of death among children and teens in the county and a rising demand for behavioral health services, the dedicated children’s center will ensure timely and effective care. Beyond immediate crisis intervention, the initiative will foster collaborative partnerships with schools, healthcare providers and law enforcement, ensuring a continuum of care throughout the community.
Through funding from the NCEF Mental Health Initiative, with David Lawrence Centers as a key Blueprint partner, nearly 85,500 youth have received effective, coordinated mental health services and treatment since 2012.