The funding will support behavioral health programs aimed at addressing growing mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ youth.
Maimonides Health has received a $500,000 grant from Robin Hood to continue and expand mental health services for LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults in Brooklyn.
The funding, announced June 9, renews a grant first awarded in 2025 and will support behavioral health programs aimed at addressing growing mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ youth.
The investment comes as studies continue to show elevated rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ young people.
“This grant underscores both the urgency of this work and Maimonides’ commitment to caring for every member of our community with dignity and compassion,” said Ken Gibbs, president of Maimonides Health. “For many LGBTQIA+ young people and their families, finding appropriate mental health care can be extraordinarily difficult. This grant from Robin Hood allows us to continue building trusted spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered to seek care. We are grateful to Robin Hood for the support.”
According to The Trevor Project’s most recent national survey, 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said recent events affecting LGBTQ+ communities had negatively impacted their well-being. More than one-third reported seriously considering suicide during the previous year.
Research from the organization also found that young people with access to affirming spaces and supportive communities reported lower rates of suicide attempts.
The grant will support services offered through the Maimonides LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, which provides individual, family and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management and referrals to community resources. The clinic serves LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages and their families.
The program’s multidisciplinary staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and adolescent medicine specialists trained in LGBTQIA+ mental health care and trauma-informed treatment. Providers work with patients and families to develop individualized care plans based on each person’s needs and experiences.
Robin Hood, a New York City anti-poverty organization, cited the growing connection between economic hardship, health outcomes and access to care among vulnerable youth as part of its continued support for the program.
“New York City’s affordability crisis is a health crisis — and for LGBTQIA+ young people, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Since 2024, Robin Hood has been proud to partner with Maimonides because they know what it means to meet young people where they are with the dignity and clinical expertise they deserve,” said Richard R. Buery Jr., CEO of Robin Hood.
Maimonides Health, Brooklyn’s largest health care system, serves more than 1 million patient visits annually through its hospitals, outpatient centers and community-based practices.
The health system has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index for its efforts to provide inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ patients.