We are pleased to announce our partnership with the Police Athletic League of North Miami (PAL of North Miami) to provide free mental health clinical services to the uninsured and under-insured children, ages 8-18, of North Miami. This program is made possible by the generosity of J.D. Martinez, the designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox—and Miami native—who serves as the official Ambassador to FMHC. The program will include weekly afternoon visits from Dr. Richard Griff, one of our clinicians and therapists.

“The health and wellness of our children are very important to us. During this time of COVID, many children have been taken out of the weekly school routine, and our most vulnerable are in unsupervised home environments, where they often miss out on essential school lunches,” Chief of Police and Executive Director of PAL, Chief Larry Juriga, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to partner with the Florida Mental Health Coalition to provide them with psychological support and continue to be that safe outlet for them across mind, body, and spirit,” added Officer Natalie Buissereth, Assistant Director of PALNM.

Dr. Griff will facilitate group therapy sessions with the current cohort of children at PAL, as well as utilize the sports equipment in the organization’s fitness center. With a formal education in sports psychology, Dr. Griff is excited to leverage the boxing equipment at PAL to create thoughtful exercises on emotional release through physical activity.

“I could not think of a better person to be at the helm of our partnership with PAL,” said Dr. Ann Monis, Board Chair of the Florida Mental Health Coalition.

“As an athlete myself, I know how powerful and healing exercise can be, and I’m thrilled that Dr. Griff can bring this to his work with these children,” J.D. Martinez, Ambassador of the Florida Mental Health Coalition, added.

At the moment, this program is able to serve 50 children and hopes to expand in its reach through charitable gifts from the community.

“With more funding, we hope to be able to move into a larger facility and offer transportation services for our children,” said Dave Burney, President of North Miami PAL. “We hope to be able to offer physical, mental and social services for these children—and their family unit—and continue to be a place of refuge for them during tough times.”

We are also teaming up with North Miami PAL to host a toy drive during the holidays. If you’d like to make a monetary contribution to the childrens’ Wish List, please do so here