Children’s Wisconsin opens mental health walk-in clinic in Kenosha

$3 million gift from Kohl’s supports expansion of walk-in service model

Mental health walk-in care is now available at the Children’s Wisconsin Kenosha Clinic thanks to a $3 million gift from Kohl’s. This location builds off the success of the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic located on the Milwaukee campus that opened in the spring of 2022. 

Both clinics are staffed by licensed therapists, social workers and clinic assistants. Children and teens ages 5-18 can access care immediately, with no appointment or referral required. 

Families are encouraged to check the mental health walk-in web page, as hours will expand as additional staff are hired. Initially, Kenosha Mental Health Walk-In Clinic will be open Tuesdays through Fridays, from 1-6:30 p.m. The Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic is currently open 3-9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon-6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  

“We know kids and families need more support and access to mental health services,” said Amy Herbst, MSSW, APSW, vice president of mental and behavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin. “Think of these walk-in clinics as ‘urgent care’ for mental health. We don’t want kids and parents to hesitate about coming to these clinics. They know when their children are struggling and need immediate support. Whether they have an established therapist or have never seen a mental health professional, these clinics will provide immediate support.”

“It’s an honor to support Children’s Wisconsin and the opening of its newest walk-in mental health clinic – bringing much-needed services and support to local families,” said Jill Timm, Kohl’s chief financial officer and Children’s Wisconsin board member. “Our nation is facing a mental health crisis, especially among our youth and teenagers, but many don’t have access to critical resources. This walk-in clinic will help alleviate that challenge and provide an essential resource for families in need of mental health assistance. We’re proud to extend our 23-year partnership with Children’s Wisconsin and address this urgent issue to ensure youth and families across our home state receive the solutions they need to live happier, healthier lives.”

Kohl’s support is made possible through Kohl’s Cares® Goods for Good, which sells children’s books and toys and donates 100 percent of the net profit to health and wellness organizations nationwide. 

The clinics are part of a 5-year commitment started in 2020 by Children’s Wisconsin to detect mental and behavioral health needs earlier, reduce stigma and improve access to mental and behavioral health services for children. Progress in these areas are possible because of significant donor support, state and federal funding, patient revenue and direct investments by Children’s Wisconsin. 

The two clinics fill a critical gap in care for kids experiencing a mental health crisis and are the only two clinics in the state providing this type of access. According to the 2023 annual report by the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, 1 in 10 Wisconsin teenagers say they attempted suicide and half of all kids have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or behavioral problems. At the same time, half of Wisconsin youth report difficulty obtaining mental health services. 

“We can’t adequately express our gratitude to the people at Kohl’s who helped make this clinic possible,” said Meg Brzyski Nelson, president of the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation. “The need for mental health services for Wisconsin’s children is urgently high, and Kohl’s was the first and continues to be one of our most dedicated supporters to this work. Children’s Wisconsin has made a commitment to create the best mental health system possible for our kids, but we simply wouldn’t be able to do it without the philanthropic support of generous individuals and organizations.”

The majority of kids seen at the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic have sought care for anxiety, depression, trauma concerns and school avoidance. With the opening of the walk-in clinic in Kenosha, help is closer for families in Kenosha, Racine, Walworth and Lake Counties. 

Parents and guardians of children in and around Kenosha are encouraged to bring their child to one of the walk-in clinics if they are experiencing:

• Feelings of anxiety, stress or panic attack
  
  
• Trouble focusing
  
  
• Loss of appetite or feelings of isolation
  
  
• Mood disorders
  
  
• Hyperactivity or attention issues
  
  
• Lack of interest in family or social activities
  
  
• Bullying
  
  
• Difficulty sleeping
  
  
• School avoidance
  
  
• Suicidal thoughts 

Driven by the vision that Wisconsin kids will be the healthiest in the nation, Children’s Wisconsin is committed to providing better mental and behavioral health services. In addition to the opening of the walk-in clinics, other milestones and investments have included: 

• Creating a brand new primary care model by integrating mental and behavioral health into every Children’s Wisconsin primary care office and every checkup. 
  
  
• Implementing suicide and mental health screening into Emergency Department visits and primary care visits. 
  
  
• Expanding the early childhood mental health team and services. 
  
  
• Growing our school-based mental and behavioral health program.
  
  
• Increasing the number of licensed mental health therapists through a therapist fellowship program.  

More information about the investment Children’s Wisconsin has made into mental and behavioral health, as well as resources and tips on how to be more active in your child’s mental and behavioral health at all ages, and a link to make a donation to support these efforts, is available at childrenswi.org/shinethrough.

Children's Wisconsin Media Relations

Staff supporting mental and behavioral health care at Children’s Wisconsin includes experts in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry, pediatric psychology, neuropsychology and psychotherapy.