The Child Mind Institute Marks Fourth Year of Empowering California High School Students with Resources for a Career in Mental Health Care through its Youth Mental Health Academy

The program — in partnership with the state of California — builds a diverse pipeline of future mental health professionals through hands-on training, mentorship, and paid internships.

Los Angeles, CA – This summer, the Child Mind Institute welcomed a new class of Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA) students for the 2026–2027 program. As part of a larger partnership with the state of California, YMHA connects high school students with education, mentorship, and career development opportunities across mental health professions. Since launching in 2023, the program has trained more than 2,700 high school students — prioritizing admission within communities that are historically underrepresented across mental health professions, including BIPOC, individuals from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ youth, and students living with disabilities.

More than half of the U.S. population lives in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals and, while a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, only about 10% of mental health professionals come from those communities. By exposing a diverse group of students to the field, and providing them with real career pathways, the Child Mind Institute believes YMHA helps address this shortage and lack of culturally relevant care.

“As the need for mental health care continues to grow, the Child Mind Institute is committed to helping build a future workforce that reflects the communities it serves,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president and medical director at the Child Mind Institute. “We’re proud to welcome students into this year’s academy where they’ll get an inside look at the rewarding and diverse careers available in mental health, furthering our investment in the next generation of professionals who will make a difference in the field.”

YMHA spans 14-months and includes three phases: a paid five-week Summer Academy that introduces students to mental health careers and core skills; year-round mentorship and professional development workshops; and a paid internship placement with a mental health organization.

Over 850 students from the 2025 cohort are currently participating in paid internships across more than 100 mental health partner organizations. These students will log more than 8,000 collective working hours, gaining experience at organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Children’s Institute, Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Didi Hirsch. About 76% of program graduates plan to pursue a career related to mental health.

The 2026 Summer Academy welcomed a new cohort of students in June. This phase of the program culminated in a statewide celebration on July 23, with over 400 students across five sites presenting group capstone projects. The projects synthesized the skills students acquired throughout the summer, and focused on topics that are meaningful to them and their communities. Common themes included the mental health impact of social media, identity and economic background and its relationship to mental health outcomes, and the influence of generational trauma.

About 40 additional students are participating in the Summer Academy and mentorship program through Child Mind Institute’s partnership with the Bridge Builders Foundation, a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding STEM education, mentorship, and college scholarships for youth and communities of color.

“The partnership between Bridge Builders Foundation and the Child Mind Institute’s Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA) reflects a shared commitment to improving the mental health and well-being of young people while expanding access to education and career opportunities,” said Keith Parker, deputy executive director of the Bridge Builders Foundation. “Together, we are equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship needed to become future leaders and advocates in behavioral health.”

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About Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is the leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families experiencing mental health and learning disorders. Since its founding in 2009, the Child Mind Institute has become a global institution reaching millions of families each year through excellence in evidence-based clinical care, renowned educational resources and training, and science to advance the next generation of treatment. 

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