Pile of newspapers
At Every Turn > Mental and Behavioral Health > Children’s Wisconsin awarded $100,000 grant as part of the Preventing Youth Suicide National Collaborative
News Nov 03, 2023

Children’s Wisconsin awarded $100,000 grant as part of the Preventing Youth Suicide National Collaborative

Children’s Wisconsin has received a $100,000 grant to better identify and care for youth at risk for suicide. This grant is part of the second cohort of the Preventing Youth Suicide National Collaborative, a Cardinal Health Foundation National Collaborative, which is an initiative from Cardinal Health, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and the Zero Suicide Institute (ZSI) at the Education Development Center (EDC). 

Amid a nationwide youth mental health crisis, the Preventing Youth Suicide National Collaborative is working to develop a pediatric-specific, data-driven approach that will enable participating children’s hospitals and health systems to better track, share, and implement best suicide prevention practices with each other. This program supports a system-wide transformation in suicide care at children’s hospitals and will help save children’s lives.

“We are honored to be part of this important national collaborative,” said Jenny Walczak, PSYD, director of Mental and Behavioral Health Integration at Children’s Wisconsin. “With this grant funding, we plan to hire an additional social worker who will specifically work to support our universal suicide screening efforts. That professional will also implement a new intervention called Caring Contacts.” Caring Contacts is a suicide prevention approach that involves sending brief messages expressing concern to patients who have been suicidal. 

Children’s Wisconsin’s universal screening initiative

Mental health screening at appointments is crucial to identifying issues before they become a crisis. Depression screening has been integrated into standard practices at all Children’s Wisconsin primary care offices. All kids who screen positive are referred for follow-up care. A suicide screening tool is also in place in the Children’s Wisconsin Emergency Department. As part of its five-year plan for improving mental and behavioral health services, Children’s Wisconsin is implementing screening at every touchpoint where kids get care — from adoptive and foster care services, to school nursing programs to specialty clinics.

“Children’s hospitals and health systems work within their hospitals, outpatient clinics and emergency rooms, and in partnership with their communities to improve the health of children and youth — including their mental, emotional and behavioral health,” said Amy Wimpey Knight, president of CHA. “With some 30 pediatric health care organizations now focused on building stronger care systems to recognize, intervene and treat children and youth at risk of suicide through the Preventing Youth Suicide Collaborative, we will save lives. We are grateful to these hospitals, their community partners, and to Cardinal Health and the Zero Suicide Institute for their leadership and partnership with CHA. We are committed to sharing their work with children’s hospitals across the nation.”

The following children’s hospitals and health systems have been awarded grants:

  • AdventHealth for Children – Fla.
  • Advocate Children’s Hospital – Ill. 
  • Boston Children's Hospital – Mass. 
  • Children's Minnesota – Minn. 
  • Children's Wisconsin – Wis. 
  • Cohen Children's Medical Center, Northwell Health – N.Y. 
  • Doernbecher Children's Hospital – Ore. 
  • Mary Bridge Children's Hospital – Wash. 
  • Medical University of South Carolina Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital – S.C. 
  • Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt – Tenn. 
  • Penn State Children’s Hospital – Pa.
  • Intermountain Primary Children’s – Utah
  • Stanford Children's Health – Calif. 
  • Wolfson Children's Hospital – Fla. 

To learn more about the collaborative, visit Preventing Youth Suicide National Collaborative (childrenshospitals.org).

Children's Wisconsin Resources

The Children's Wisconsin Craig Yabuki Mental Health Center can help you carry the weight of your child’s mental and behavioral health struggles. There is nothing too big or too small.
View more articles from Children's Wisconsin Media Relations

Related Stories

Pile of newspapers
News Dec 04, 2024

Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health Kids enter new joint venture

Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health Kids are announcing a new joint venture for shared pediatric cardiac and adult congenital heart care services.

New Children's Wisconsin Appleton Clinic opened March 6
News Oct 25, 2024

Children’s Wisconsin plans pediatric urgent care in Appleton

Urgent care services for kids of all ages will be available seven days a week at the clinic.

At Every Turn new trusted parenting resource from Children's Wisconsin
News Oct 23, 2024

Welcome to At Every Turn

At Every Turn is your new and improved parenting resource from Children's Wisconsin.

Children’s Wisconsin named among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report
News Oct 08, 2024

Children’s Wisconsin named among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report

Children’s Wisconsin ranked among the best in 8 pediatric specialties.

Children walking through a grassy field with the sun behind them.
News Sep 24, 2024

Children’s Wisconsin announces historic engagement and philanthropy campaign

Brighter Than Ever is the most ambitious and comprehensive engagement and philanthropy campaign in the organization’s history.

MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Wisconsin
News Sep 17, 2024

Children's Wisconsin brings life-changing gene therapy to kids with severe sickle cell disease

The MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is only center in Wisconsin to offer FDA-approved Casgevy therapy to children with severe sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Amy Herbst, VP of Mental and Behavioral Health at Children's Wisconsin, talks with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
News Aug 07, 2024

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Children's Wisconsin committed to improving mental health services. It's working.

It's been nearly five years since Children's Wisconsin launched a five-year plan to improve access to behavioral health care for children and adolescents.