Mental health isn’t just personal. It’s environmental.

Postpartum & Perinatal Support

The postpartum period is one of the most intense transitions a family will ever navigate. New parents are adjusting to physical recovery, sleep deprivation, identity shifts, and the emotional weight of caring for a newborn — often with far less support than they need.

Research shows that 1 in 5 mothers experience postpartum depression or anxiety, and many never receive care due to cost, access, or lack of specialized providers. When support is missing during this window, the effects ripple through parent–child bonding, family stability, and long-term wellbeing.

What this looks like in practice:

• Postpartum and newborn support kits that meet immediate needs while including helpful information about postpartum mental health and how to access support if needed

• Training stipends to help local providers access education in perinatal mental health, expanding the availability of informed, specialized care for new parents

• Financial support to help parents access perinatal mental health care when insurance or cost is a barrier

• Partnerships with trusted local providers and community organizations to help support reach families early — often through places they already turn for care

This work is about making support easier to reach during a season when families are often overwhelmed and isolated.

Neurodiversity & Inclusive Community Support

Roughly 1 in 5 children is neurodivergent, yet many spend their days in environments that weren’t built with their needs in mind. When kids are misunderstood, stress increases — for them and for their families. Anxiety, school struggles, and burnout often follow, not because something is “wrong,” but because support is missing.

Neurodivergent kids experience higher rates of anxiety and depression and are disciplined at disproportionate rates in school. At the same time, many families struggle to access timely, accurate diagnosis or neuro-affirming care due to long waitlists, insurance barriers, and unclear pathways to support.

When evaluation and care aren’t accessible, kids are left without support — and families are left trying to figure it out on their own.

What this looks like in practice:

• Providing sensory and regulation tools for classrooms and community spaces

• Financial support to help families access neuro-affirming evaluations and mental health care when cost or waitlists are barriers

• Training stipends that support neuro-affirming education for therapists, educators, childcare providers, and other youth-facing professionals to increase access to care

• Parent support and education for families raising neurodivergent kids — reducing isolation and helping caregivers feel more supported and understood

This work helps shift everyday environments from sources of stress to sources of support.

Youth Sports & Mental Health Access

For many kids, sports and activities are more than extracurriculars — they’re a place to regulate emotions, build confidence, and feel connected. Research consistently shows that kids who participate in sports experience 10–20% lower rates of anxiety and depression, along with improved emotional regulation and stronger peer connection.

For neurodivergent kids, these benefits can be even more meaningful. Supportive, structured physical activity has been shown to help improve emotional regulation, attention, and anxiety, particularly when teams are inclusive and responsive to different needs.

But access isn’t equal. More than one in three kids are excluded from youth sports due to cost, and nearly 70% drop out by early adolescence. For many families, safety concerns, financial barriers, and environments that aren’t equipped to support different needs — especially for neurodivergent kids — make participation feel out of reach.

When kids lose access to sports, they don’t just lose an activity. They lose routine, connection, and an important protective buffer for mental health.

What this looks like in practice:

• Scholarships and financial support to reduce cost barriers to participation

• Safety equipment that protects kids’ bodies and brains, helping families feel more confident saying yes to sports

• Partnerships with youth sports organizations to support more inclusive, neurodiversity-informed team cultures

• Funding and access to practical, coach-centered training focused on regulation, behavior as communication, and keeping more kids meaningfully engaged

This work keeps kids connected to the places that help them regulate, connect, and stay engaged.