Case Study: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin improves teen mental health care with Highland

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin redirects $20M with Highland to expand mental health care

The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, a nationally ranked pediatric hospital, faced the challenge of improving mental health care for children and adolescents. They engaged Highland to understand the needs and experiences of parents seeking care in order to effectively deploy a $20M donation aimed at addressing high rates of childhood anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Highland conducted ethnographic research which revealed that stigma was not the primary barrier to care; instead, parental exhaustion and a complex care system were the main obstacles. Based on these insights, Highland helped the hospital redirect funds from a planned anti-stigma campaign to create a first-of-its-kind walk-in behavioral health clinic, an integrated crisis hotline, and web-based resources. These innovations have impacted thousands of teenagers, garnered national media attention, and established a nationally recognized program.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin