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MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES TO BE

HIGHLIGHTED AT 2019 NAPLES WINTER
WINE FESTIVAL

2019 NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO MENTAL
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN IN COLLIER COUNTY
BY TARGETING MENTAL HEALTH AS THIS YEAR’S FUND A NEED

iting the urgent need for expanded access to mental and Mental Health is one of NCEF’s seven strategic, multi-
behavioral health care for at-risk children in our community, partner initiatives, which address children’s overall health needs
C the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) from head to toe. Dubbed “Beautiful Minds®,” the initiative
announced that it will target Children’s Mental Health for its annual aims to fundamentally transform and expand mental health care
Fund a Need initiative at the 2019 Naples Winter Wine Festival. for at-risk children by strengthening links among local health
Founded by NCEF, the Naples Winter Wine Festival care providers, community mental health professionals, social
enters its 19th year in 2019 and ranks as the most successful services and the public school system.
international charity wine auction in the world raising more Under NCEF’s leadership, David Lawrence Center, Florida
than $176 million for children’s causes. At the 2019 Festival, State University College of Medicine, Golisano Children’s
guests will have a chance to show their support through a live Hospital, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and
auction on January 26th, while those unable to attend the event National Alliance on Mental Illness have collaborated to reduce
will be able to donate online starting January 20th. and eliminate duplication of services, maximize resources,
“Mental health issues cut across all families, all communities,” and increase the availability of high quality, best-practice
said Paul Hills, NCEF Grant Committee Chair. “This year’s Fund approaches. This innovative and ground-breaking coalition
a Need initiative will support early identification, expert diagnosis, has created Collier County’s first integrated care system, an
and effective treatment of childhood psychiatric and learning organized coordination of primary and behavioral healthcare.
disorders needed in our community along with taking away the Among these collaborative efforts was a workshop in August
stigma for children and their families and empowering them with at which experts on childhood trauma offered tips for helping
help, hope and answers.” children struggling with toxic levels of stress by training adults
Research shows that one in 10 young people will struggle with a who care for them. Toxic stress is the sustained exposure of
mental health issue before the age of 10, regardless of race and income, adverse childhood experiences without protective factors. This
and that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of type of stress severely damages children’s cognitive, social and
14. Furthermore, it is estimated that two to three children in every behavioral development.
American classroom suffers from some type of social/emotional NCEF also recently partnered with the Florida State
condition, the vast majority of whom never receive professional care. University Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy on
NCEF annually identifies a high-need area in Collier County a “Think Tank” focusing on expanding trauma informed systems
as its Fund a Need priority and asks its supporters to help in Florida. The session featured Dr. Vincent Felitti, one of the
fill those gaps through contributions. The 2018 Fund a Need world’s foremost experts on childhood trauma and co-author
initiative brought in more than $2.3 million for childhood hunger of the “Adverse Childhood Experiences Study,” and included
and expanded oral health care, ensuring more at-risk children will state leaders and policymakers as well as community leaders in
have access to nutritious food and proper oral health care. education, criminal justice, juvenile justice and health fields.

“Integrating mental health and primary care services in a
Here’s specifically how individual contributions can make a
culturally competent model produces the best outcomes and proves
difference:
the most effective approach to caring for children with multiple
 $100,000 provides a bilingual psychologist to provide ongoing
healthcare needs,” said Maria Jimenez-Lara, chief executive officer
mental health services in-school and in healthcare clinics;
of NCEF. “Diagnosing and treating problems early can make the
 $50,000 funds a school liaison staff member to help children
biggest difference for children and for their families.”
with mental health needs cope in a school setting;
 $25,000 provides 1,190 pediatric patients an integrated
intervention visit at the time of their primary care appointment; Ticket packages to the 2019 Naples Winter Wine Festival are
 $10,000 provides mental health assessments for 80 children in need;
limited to 600 guests and start at $12,500 per couple. A $30,000
 $5,000 provides mental health educational programming for 300 package, which includes reserved seating for a party of four at a
at-risk teens;
Vintner Dinner and under the Festival tent, is also available. To
 $1,000 provides social-emotional screenings – designed to
inquire about tickets to the Festival, please contact Barrett Farmer
identify children who may have or are at risk of having social at barrett@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.
emotional and behavioral delays – for 20 children.
44 Life in Naples | December 2018