My name is Stephani. I’m a single mother of a 14-year-old named Jaci that has an on going history of mental health struggles over the past year and a half. She is autistic level two, has major depression and suicidal ideation. She has been hospitalized for mental health now 13 times since October 2024.

Since October, I have not been able to work due to her multiple hospitalizations. In order to support her needs, it’s important for me to be with her at all times to keep her safe and out of danger. We have insurance, but they refuse to provide the treatments she needs, like long-term residential care that has been recommended. It’s heartbreaking and makes me wonder how many other kids and teens struggle to get the care they need through insurance; it’s a nightmare.

My daughter has hit and verbally abused me and my elderly mother multiple times. We are constantly having to call crisis, police department for help when she escalates. She also struggles with self-harm and has made attempts of suicide multiple times. Not only am I struggling mentally myself through all this, I’m running out of options to pay bills. Rent is due and I have no idea what I’m going to do as I can’t work and I’m so scared we will end up on the street or worse something happens to my daughter because I have to be present at all times for my daughter’s mental health needs as she doesn’t have any judgment or insight when it comes to danger of herself or others.

My goal is to raise funds for lost wages as well as a secondary insurance policy to cover the long term treatment she needs so my daughter can get help and access her education as she’s missed so much school due to hospitalizations. Sometimes it’s hard to think there is light at the end of the tunnel as so many things work against her and myself to get her the help she needs as well as get her stable enough and enough help with her needs for myself to return to work.