Brain development/Law/Policy School of Medicine

Gift to help SLCH, WashU develop care model to improve kids’ behavioral health

Bob and Signa Hermann

St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are tackling the issue of behavioral health support that has emerged as a leading health concern in our country — for people of all ages. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed the number of children suffering and how few resources are available to help. A new $15 million gift from Bob and Signa Hermann will have a profound impact on our patients and families, both in St. Louis and, eventually, beyond.

The Hermann Center for Child and Family Development will be housed within the Children’s Discovery Institute, a partnership between St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine that is the result of a shared vision to change the way pediatric research is conducted and an intense commitment to bring about dramatic improvements in pediatric care. The Hermann Center will blend world-class research with a revolutionary model for whole-family behavioral health care. The Hermann family invites the community to join them in improving behavioral health for families throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. The total amount needed to fully fund the Hermann Center is $20 million. Their $15 million gift also encompasses a match challenge, intended to help the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation raise an additional $5 million in support of the center’s long-term goals and programs.

“There is a great need historically for a center of this magnitude here in St. Louis,” said Bob Hermann. “While the unveiling was accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric behavioral health has been underfunded for some time. Signa and I want to ensure the future of children with a variety of conditions is limitless and families receive transformational care that leads to long and healthy lives.”

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