Full Eligibility & Program Guidelines

1. Financial eligibility: serving the "Missing Middle"

The Waymark Foundation is specifically designed for families who occupy the gap in our healthcare system: those who earn too much to qualify for state-funded assistance (Medicaid), but not enough to absorb the catastrophic costs of private behavioral health crisis care.

Our service demographic

• Income range: generally, we serve households with a combined gross income between $60,000 and $200,000.
• The "asset-rich, cash-poor" exception: we recognize that in a crisis, a family's income doesn't tell the whole story. If your income is higher but you are facing overwhelming medical debt or the sudden loss of a second income due to caregiving demands, you are encouraged to apply and provide a brief hardship explanation.

Simplified verification (no pay stubs required)

• The Financial Good Faith Affidavit: a self-certification where you legally swear to your household income range and your lack of eligibility for state subsidies.
• The insurance "gap" filter: a copy of an insurance denial letter or an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) showing that the requested service is not covered or is out-of-network.

Direct-to-provider funding

To maintain absolute transparency and comply with IRS 501(c)(3) regulations, The Waymark Foundation does not issue funds to individuals. All grants are paid directly to the licensed therapist, clinical evaluator, or law firm representing your child. Note: you must provide a formal quote or retainer agreement from the provider with your application.

2. Clinical & situational eligibility

The Waymark Foundation provides emergency grants for minors (under age 18) or young adults (up to age 21, if under the primary care of a parent/guardian) who are experiencing a severe behavioral health crisis. We prioritize cases where traditional outpatient care is no longer sufficient to maintain the safety and integrity of the home. Eligibility is generally met if the child is experiencing one or more of the following:

• Acute lethality or risk of self-harm: persistent threats or actions that require constant 1-to-1 supervision to ensure the child's physical safety.
• Safety-compromising aggression: physical behaviors toward parents, siblings, or property that make the home environment untenable or dangerous.
• Neuro-biological elopement: "running" or elopement behaviors directly tied to a mental health diagnosis (such as autism, trauma-related disassociation, or Reactive Attachment Disorder).
• Failed stabilization / the "ER standoff": children currently in an acute setting (ER, Baker Act facility, or crisis unit) who cannot safely return home and require a "bridge" grant to transition to residential or intensive treatment.
• Crisis-related legal entanglement: families facing juvenile justice or dependency court proceedings that have arisen directly from a documented mental health episode rather than criminal intent.

3. Mandatory documentation

All applicants must submit the following. Incomplete applications will be placed on hold.

• The Waymark Financial Good Faith Form — a signed self-certification that your household income falls within the "Missing Middle" service range and that you do not currently qualify for state-funded subsidies (such as Florida Medicaid). The Foundation reserves the right to request a redacted front page of your most recent 1040 should a verification audit be required.
• The Waymark Crisis Log (clinical evidence) — a completed Waymark 48-Hour Incident Log for your most recent crisis event. Documentation is the "ammunition" of advocacy.
• Professional referral or order for care — a letter or formal order from a licensed professional (therapist, psychiatrist, or evaluator) stating that the requested service is a necessary component of the child's behavioral health stabilization.
• Proof of insurance denial or "gap" status — a formal Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or denial letter from your insurance carrier regarding the requested service, or a statement from the provider confirming they are out-of-network and that no in-network equivalent is available to meet the child's specific clinical needs.

4. Priority & triage

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis using a triage system to direct emergency funds to the most critical situations first.

• Priority 1 — Emergency: child currently in ER or detention with no residential placement
• Priority 2 — Urgent: evaluations or attorney fees needed to prevent expulsion or legal sentencing
• Priority 3 — Stability: travel/connection grants for families with a child in care 50+ miles away

Program exclusions

To protect the integrity of our clinical mission, we cannot fund the following:

• Legal fines, restitution, or bail
• Standard monthly household bills (mortgage, utilities, car payments)
• Non-clinical "boot camps" or programs not accredited by JCAHO or CARF
• Services already rendered — we do not reimburse past bills
• Direct cash payments to parents or guardians
• Applicants who do not reside in Florida, USA

The Waymark Reciprocity Agreement

We believe in a "hand-up" model. By accepting a Waymark Grant, families agree to two commitments:

• Document: maintain a digital record of the treatment progress made possible by the grant.
• Review: provide a brief, anonymous testimonial or "impact update" at 90 days to help us secure future funding for other families.

The Waymark Foundation is a non-profit funded by private donations. While we strive to help every eligible family, grants are subject to fund availability and cannot be guaranteed for every applicant.

The burden ratio formula

To qualify, your anticipated crisis cost divided by your monthly gross household income must meet or exceed 20%. Most families complete the application process within a few days once documentation is assembled — confirm your eligibility above, gather your required records, then submit.