2014 Annual Report

Understanding the mind of a child is one of the principal undertakings of the Child Mind Institute, but we cannot do it without the participation of many children and young people. The Healthy Brain Network (HBN) is an unprecedented research initiative through which we will collect imaging, genetic, and clinical data from 10,000 children (ages 5–21) in the NYC-metro area over the next five years. Using open science, we will share our de-identified data with multidisciplinary researchers around the world for analysis, speeding discovery with the potential to change lives.

In 2014, we made significant progress toward the launch of the HBN. Staten Island was strategically selected for the launch of the HBN because of the limited availability of mental health resources for children. The initiative will have an immediate and lasting impact on the Staten Island community as we provide 3,400 children with free comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and coordinated care as part of the data collection process over the five years of the project.

The Child Mind Institute leverages the combined power of open science (the movement to make scientific data, tools, and analysis accessible to all researchers) and big data (which uses advanced technology to identify patterns in large data sets to generate hypotheses). The NIH has applauded our groundbreaking open science efforts, such as the 1000 Functional Connectomes Project and the International Neuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative. Thousands of researchers in 2,500 cities have accessed 10,000 compiled data sets, leading to more than 630 published articles within a few years.

Researchers in 2,500 cities have accessed 10,000 compiled data sets Over 630 articles published through open science initiatives

Our approach is driving discovery in the search for the brain-based causes of child mental illness and leading to the development of objective clinical tools for more accurate diagnoses and treatment protocols for struggling children.

With more than 20% of children suffering from mental illness in the United States, we recognize that we can only reach a small percentage of these children through our in-house clinical program. Our school-based initiatives reach many more children in the communities where they study, play, and live. We are equipping parents and professionals with effective techniques to better recognize and manage the emotional and behavioral disorders of children. These initiatives extend our services to some of the most underserved children in the metro New York area.

In 2014, CMI clinicians provided educational workshops, professional development trainings, and clinical interventions through the following programs:

• Our Stress & Resilience Program built the trauma response capacity of parents, teachers, and educators to help children and youth cope with trauma and related stresses in healthy ways.
• Our School-Based Mental Health Safety Net provided cutting-edge classroom coaching, workshops, and consultations to help teachers address the needs of children with behavioral and emotional problems in the classroom, leaving teachers more time and energy to focus on the quality of instruction as well as the academic achievement of students.
• Our Free Workshops and Roundtables provided professionals and parents with important clinical information and evidence-based strategies to help improve emotional and behavioral outcomes for the children in their care.

At the heart of our community-based services is our thriving clinical program, which continues to improve diagnostics and treatment, innovating new approaches to help children succeed. Since 2010, CMI clinicians have helped more than 5,000 patients at our state-of-the-art facility, including an estimated 450 children and families who have benefitted from our Financial Aid Fund and CMI Cares Fund. Since 2011, we have provided more than $2.5 million in treatment and assistance to these families. These funds are critical as we expand our community-based services and increase our referrals from underserved communities. Our Financial Aid Fund ensures that every eligible family that calls and every child who walks through our door has access to world-class care.

Together, our clinical program and community-based services are building a strong support system for children, promoting prevention and early intervention, so that all children can reach their full potential.

At the Child Mind Institute, we believe that sharing personal stories is an effective way of raising awareness about the realities of psychiatric and learning disorders. These stories hold the power to reduce the stigma that often prevents parents and youth from seeking help.

In 2014, several families and children helped us speak out:

• The Ascencio family shared their journey to help their 6-year-old daughter, Kailee, through her struggles with selective mutism.
  Read their story here.
• Hannah and her mother discussed how their family embraced treatment to find a solution for Hannah’s phobia disorder.
  Read their story here.
• Maryam and her daughter, Natasha, revealed their experience overcoming Natasha’s challenges with anxiety and PTSD.
  Read their story here.

We are proud of the children who have used their own voices to break the silence about mental illness and share their stories of inspiration and hope.

In addition to sharing personal stories, the Child Mind Institute continues to provide parents, educators, and other professionals with information they need to understand the emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges of the kids in their care and to make good decisions for their care and treatment. Through childmind.org and our annual Speak Up for Kids campaign, we reach parents across the country with our messages of help, hope, and answers.