Eligibility Criteria For Patients

• Children & teens 0–18 yrs; application by parent or guardian.
• Documented financial hardship (W‑2, benefits, etc.).
• No active insurance coverage (or written denial) for therapy.
• Not currently funded by another organization.
• Family agrees to our 5‑step intake, monitoring & follow‑up.
• Parent or guardian acknowledges and agrees to all Bereishis Foundation policies via a checkbox in the application form.

We Cannot Fund If…

• Applicant is 19 years or older.
• Insurance coverage for therapy is available.
• Another communal fund can fully cover the need.
• Sessions occurred before Bereishis approval.
• Financial docs / references are missing or unverified.
• Therapist lacks a valid U.S. license.

If you do not qualify for funding, please visit our additional resources page for alternative funding options.

Support Process

Attendance and Funding Continuity Policy

• To ensure consistent therapy and prioritize active participants, funding will be discontinued if a patient misses two consecutive scheduled therapy sessions without prior notification or rescheduling.
• Definition of Inactivity: Inactivity includes no-shows or cancellations of two consecutive sessions without rescheduling within 48 hours or unapproved pauses in therapy.
• Emergency Absence Policy: In cases of emergencies (e.g., medical, family, or natural disasters), families may request an excused absence for up to four weeks by submitting documentation (e.g., medical note) to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org. The inactivity count is paused during this period, subject to approval.
• Session Rescheduling: Families must notify the therapist and Bereishis Foundation of cancellations and reschedule within 48 hours of a missed session. A maximum of two rescheduling requests per 5-session block is allowed without affecting funding status.
• Notification Process: If a patient misses one scheduled session without notification or rescheduling, the family will receive a warning email. If a second consecutive session is missed, a final email will be sent to the parent or guardian, confirming the discontinuation of funding.
• Appeals Process: Families may appeal funding discontinuation within 10 business days by submitting a written explanation of extenuating circumstances to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org. Appeals are reviewed within 5 business days, and families will be notified of the decision via email.
• Reinstatement After Discontinuation: Families may reapply for funding after a 30-day waiting period by submitting a reapplication form and a letter from the therapist confirming renewed commitment to regular attendance via email to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org.
• This policy helps maintain availability for families who actively engage in therapy, ensuring our resources support consistent care.

Session Frequency Requirements

• Patients are required to attend at least one therapy session per week to maintain funding eligibility, unless a different frequency is recommended by the therapist and approved by Bereishis Foundation.
• Requests for adjusted session frequency (e.g., biweekly sessions) must be submitted by the therapist with a clinical rationale to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org and are reviewed within 5 business days.

Therapist Payment Policy

Before Funding Begins

• Therapist completes Bereishis Therapist Application Form via our online therapist application.
• Session rate agreed & approved in writing.
• If parents contribute, Bereishis covers the remainder (partial pay).

Ongoing Requirements

• Therapists must report every completed, missed, or rescheduled session within 48 hours via email to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org, including whether the session was in-person or telehealth and confirmation of HIPAA compliance for telehealth sessions.
• Invoice after each session (no pre‑payment).
• No‑shows are not reimbursed by the Bereishis Foundation.
• Therapist Substitution: If a therapist becomes unavailable (e.g., due to illness or leaving the program), the family or therapist must notify Bereishis Foundation within 48 hours via email to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org. A new therapist’s U.S. license and credentials must be verified, and funding continuation is subject to approval.
• Virtual Session Policy: Telehealth sessions are covered at the same rate as in-person sessions, provided they meet all other funding requirements. Therapists must document the session format (in-person or telehealth) in their session reports.
• Telehealth Security Policy: All telehealth sessions must be conducted using HIPAA-compliant platforms. Therapists must confirm platform compliance in their session reports submitted to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org.
• Collateral sessions with parents or guardians may be covered, but only if:
  • The same rate already approved for the child’s sessions is applied.
  • All the same rules apply, including invoicing, attendance, and documentation.
• Partial Funding Adjustments: If a family’s financial situation changes (e.g., new insurance coverage), therapists must report updates during the 5-week check-in to adjust Bereishis’ contribution.

Administrative Policies

• Late Submission Policy: All required forms (e.g., 5-week check-in progress forms, reapplication forms) must be submitted within 5 business days of their respective deadlines. A 3-business-day grace period is provided. Late submissions beyond the grace period may result in a warning or funding review. Families may appeal late submissions by emailing a written explanation to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org within 5 business days of notification, with decisions communicated within 5 business days.
• Incomplete Application Policy: Applications missing required documents (e.g., W-2, references) will be notified via email with a 10-business-day period to submit missing items. Failure to complete the application within this period will result in deferral to the waitlist. Applicants may reapply via our online application once all documents are ready.
• Parent Communication Protocol: Parents must respond to Bereishis Foundation emails (e.g., notifications, requests for documentation) within 5 business days to maintain active funding status. Non-response may trigger a funding review, with families notified via email. Appeals for non-response issues can be submitted to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org within 5 business days of notification.
• Dispute Resolution Policy: Conflicts between families, therapists, and Bereishis Foundation (e.g., regarding funding decisions or policy interpretations) must be addressed by submitting a written complaint to Connect@BereishisFoundation.org within 10 business days of the issue. A designated representative will review the complaint within 5 business days and may schedule a mediation call. A final decision will be communicated via email. If unresolved, parties may appeal to a review panel within 5 business days, with a final resolution provided within 10 business days.

Waitlist & Funding Limits

If our budget is fully allocated, eligible families are placed on a waitlist and notified when funds reopen.

Confidentiality & Ethics

All application data is kept strictly confidential. References are contacted only to confirm need; clinical details remain private.

We are committed to accessibility. Families needing assistance in languages other than English may request translation support by contacting Connect@BereishisFoundation.org.

Contact Us

For questions about this policy, the application process, or funding status, please contact us at Connect@BereishisFoundation.org or call +1 (706) 502-7455, Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST. We welcome feedback to improve our services.