The Foundation supports a number of mental health care programs. In 2004, a partnership was initiated with NARSAD-the largest donor-supported organization in the world devoted exclusively to funding scientific research on psychiatric disorders – focusing on basic and clinical research in mental illness. The Foundation has provided NARSAD support in excess of $3,000,000 since the initiation of this partnership in directly funding medical research and has funded 35 NARSAD Young Investigators. In addition, the Foundation has also provided support to Places for People in St. Louis, Missouri, the Fountain House in New York City and the Massachusetts General Hospital-Schizophrenia Clinic and Research Program.

During fiscal year 2006, the Foundation continued to support the Fountain House in New York City, which is a model for the clubhouse concept and has proven its success in New York City and as a guiding light to other clubhouses throughout the United States. This sponsorship is a continuation of Mr. Baer’s own support of clubhouses and most specifically of Fountain House.

The Foundation’s support of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Schizophrenia Research Program continues in both the clinical aspects and education through their Saturday seminars for parents and family. The Baer Foundation has worked with Families for Depression Awareness in Waltheim, Massachusetts to create an adult depression monitoring kit which can be used by the patient, as well as, friends and families to monitor the day to day progress of the patient. This is critical for the patient’s management of his or her own life and assistance to the professional community in working with the patient.

The Foundation has also supported the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition which is working in developing dynamic changes in employment of clubhouse members and the collaborative work conducted at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts in the creation of a training program in the integration of Psychiatry and Neurology.

In 2006, as in prior years, the Foundation supported a number of Young Investigators for the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression. The first annual NARSAD Symposium was presented by the Foundation in St. Louis in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for interested individuals, individuals with mental health challenges and their families, as well as the professional community. In 2006, a second symposium was sponsored by the Baer Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. The Baer Foundation continues to co-sponsor the symposia in both cities.

The Baer Foundation awarded its first Sidney R. Baer, Jr. prize at the annual NARSAD Award Dinner in 2004. This prize was granted to a collaborator of the recipient of the Lieber Award, which is awarded on an annual basis to the outstanding research fellow in the United States in the field of Schizophrenia and Depression. This also is a tradition that the Baer Foundation is proud to continue.

In 2006, the Foundation began a five year commitment to Children’s Hospital of Boston. The program is a culmination of years of work with the children and families of individuals suffering mental illness. It is designed to help families meet these challenges. This has a direct impact on Head Start and adoption of a similar program internationally. The Foundation also made a commitment to Independence Center to support its move to a new clubhouse facility in St. Louis.  That clubhouse was opened in the fall of 2007 at which time the second floor was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Baer.