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.

For more than 55 years, DLC has been at the forefront of Collier County’s mental health and substance use crisis. DLC currently provides more than 350,000 lifesaving and life-changing services to 9,000 individuals each year. The organization serves 13,000 individuals annually through prevention and education initiatives.

To learn more about the lifesaving and life-changing services and programs offered by David Lawrence Centers, visit DLCenters.org.

About David Lawrence Centers 

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a national leader providing compassionate, advanced, and exceptional mental health, substance use, and integrated healthcare solutions, available for children, adolescents, and adults. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, DLC serves 9,000 people through over 341,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, visit DLCenters.org or call 239-455-8500.

About the Naples Children & Education Foundation

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted close to 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 350,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF's unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time. For more information, visit napleswinefestival.com.