Florida Center for Early Childhood to Expand Mental Health Services in DeSoto County

The funding from the Florida Blue Foundation will support early intervention for infants, young children and families in a rural community with limited access to care.

(May 16, 2026) The earliest years of a child’s life shape everything that follows, including emotional wellbeing, school readiness and lifelong health. Yet for many families in rural communities, access to mental health support during this critical window remains out of reach. A $400,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation will help The Florida Center for Early Childhood expand infant and early childhood mental health services for families in DeSoto County, bringing care directly into the places families already turn for support.

The initiative focuses on children from birth through fifth grade and their caregivers, emphasizing prevention and early intervention at a stage when support can alter the trajectory of a child’s development. Services will be integrated into home visiting programs, early learning centers and pediatric settings. This approach reduces barriers, increases engagement and meets families where they are.

Awarded in September, the investment is already beginning to make an impact. Since its launch, the program has begun serving families while actively strengthening partnerships with local providers and community organizations across DeSoto County. This early work is creating a sustainable network of support to ensure more children and caregivers can access needed mental health services.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to reach families earlier, before small challenges have a chance to take hold,” said Dr. Kristie Skoglund, CEO of The Florida Center. “When support comes at the right time, it can change the course of a child’s development and strengthen the entire family.”

In DeSoto County, where barriers to care include poverty, transportation challenges and a shortage of providers, the need is significant. This initiative expands access to screenings, caregiver-child therapy, parent coaching and coordinated referrals for additional support, with services offered in both English and Spanish.

“Families in rural communities often face the greatest barriers to care,” said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation.” The Florida Center’s work ensures that support reaches children and caregivers right where they are and we’re honored to support these efforts so more families can access the early intervention they need to thrive.”

Skoglund says the work is supported by partnerships with Healthy Families DeSoto and Hardee Counties, First 1000 Days Suncoast, Links2Success and the Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland, helping identify families early and support them every step of the way. “The Florida Blue Foundation understands how much these early years matter,” says Skoglund. “Their support means families don’t have to face these challenges alone. That makes all the difference.”

Photo captions:

• Play-based therapy at The Florida Center for Early Childhood helps young children build emotional skills early. Support from the Florida Blue Foundation expands access to care for families in DeSoto County.
• A milestone moment at The Florida Center for Early Childhood. Florida Blue Foundation funding helps children develop communication skills that support lifelong success.
• Early support strengthens families at The Florida Center for Early Childhood. This work is made possible through a grant from the Florida Blue Foundation..

About The Florida Center for Early Childhood

For more than 45 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services, early education, and healthy development for young children in southwest Florida, offering a seamless delivery of services for the whole child and their family. Today, the agency is nationally recognized for its early childhood expertise in various specialties. The Florida Center provides developmental therapies, mental health counseling, Starfish Academy preschool, the Healthy Families home-visiting program, and the state’s only Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic, with locations in Sarasota, Orlando and Pensacola.