Child Mind Institute Takes on ‘Care Desert’ of Mental Health Services for Children in San Francisco Bay Area

National Nonprofit Supported by Local Philanthropy Establishes New Clinical Center and Community Mental Health Initiatives

San Mateo – The Child Mind Institute, a nationally recognized nonprofit delivering the highest standards of mental health care for children, adolescents and young adults, announces the opening of a new clinical center in San Mateo to serve the San Francisco Bay Area. The faculty are experts in child and adolescent mental health and learning disorders and include child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists and clinical social workers. The new program is modelled on the Child Mind Institute’s landmark clinical care and school and community programs in New York City.

“The Child Mind Institute began with a vision of a new, evidence-based approach to treating mental health and learning disorders,” said Linnea Roberts, philanthropist, investor and member of the Child Mind Institute Board of Directors. “Now we are making that vision a reality for families, schools and children in the Bay Area and are encouraged by the bold work happening in California to address youth mental health.”

1 in 5 children in the United States suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder but more than two thirds of them will never be diagnosed or receive needed treatment. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are only 59 child psychiatrists per 100,000 young people. This means that children and families who struggle go without care for months, or even years.

“After a successful decade in New York City, we are expanding to meet the urgent need for children’s mental health services in the Bay Area,” announced Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, founder and president of the Child Mind Institute. “Even before we opened the doors of our new clinical center there were 360 appointment requests.”

The clinical director of the Child Mind Institute – San Francisco Bay Area is Mark Reinecke, PhD, ABPP, a clinical psychologist who has dedicated his career to helping young people overcome depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorders and suicidal thoughts. Before joining the Child Mind Institute, he served for 18 years as Chief Psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.  Prior to this role, he served for 14 years as the Director of the Center for Cognitive Therapy with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago.

Commitments from local families and philanthropists support the Child Mind Institute’s new clinical center and community programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and a financial aid program for families in need. Beyond clinical care, the Child Mind Institute has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and Ravenswood School District in Palo Alto to bring evidence-based services to more than 2,250 children, educators and caregivers.

“We believe that no child should be turned away,” said Dr. Reinecke. “Our financial aid program is a critical part of our mission to remove barriers to accessing care.” Since 2011, the Financial Aid Fund has provided $5 million in financial assistance.

Clinical Care

The Child Mind Institute provide evaluations, evidence-based treatment and behavioral coaching and interventions for:

• Anxiety, including phobias and fears, school refusal, selective mutism, separation anxiety and social anxiety
• ADHD
• Depression and mood disorders
• Impulsive behaviors and tantrums
• Learning disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Trauma and stress

School, Community and Parent Programs

• Group treatment for students struggling with attention or behavior issues
• Group treatment for students exposed to trauma
• Student workshops on social-emotional skills, including social problem-solving and mindfulness
• Educator consultation, coaching and professional development
• Crisis consultation, resources and support for communities

About the Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain, and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most. Together with our supporters, we’re helping children reach their full potential in school and in life. We share all of our resources freely and do not accept any funding from the pharmaceutical industry. Learn more at childmind.org