Award supports mental health care for adolescents and young adults amid growing national crisis

BROOKLYN, NY, June 9, 2026 – Maimonides Health has received a $500,000 grant from Robin Hood to continue and expand critical mental health services and support programs for LGBTQIA+ adolescents and young adults in Brooklyn.

The grant, which renews funding first awarded last year, will help Maimonides strengthen access to culturally competent behavioral health care for LGBTQIA+ youth at a time when rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking continue to rise among this population.

“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 and CEO 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.”

“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, Robin Hood. “At a moment when too many are facing discrimination, family instability, and barriers to basic care, that commitment matters. Every young New Yorker—regardless of who they are or who they love—deserves a path toward health and opportunity.”

According to The Trevor Project’s most recent national survey, 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said recent events related to LGBTQ+ populations negatively impacted their well-being and more than one-third seriously considered suicide in the past year. The survey also found that LGBTQ+ youth with access to affirming spaces and supportive communities reported significantly lower rates of attempted suicide.

Recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for Healthcare Equality, Maimonides Health is home to the Maimonides LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, which provides comprehensive, personalized care for LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages and their loved ones. The clinic offers individual, family, and group therapy; psychiatric evaluations; medication management, and connections to additional community resources.

The clinic’s multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and adolescent medicine specialists with expertise in LGBTQIA+ mental health care and trauma-informed treatment. Providers work closely with patients and families to create affirming care plans tailored to each individual’s needs and lived experiences.

“I entered this field for both personal and professional reasons,” said Nilar Thwin, MD, Director of the Maimonides LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic. “As the parent of a daughter who identifies as bisexual, I understand how life-changing affirming support can be for young people and their families. Every patient deserves care that acknowledges who they are and helps them feel safe, respected, and understood.”