Milwaukee’s youngest champion for mental and behavioral health for kids

"Derell and his mom recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak up for mental and behavioral health for kids at the Children’s Wisconsin Association Family Advocacy Day. They talked with their congressional representatives about Derell’s experiences with ADHD and about keeping Medicaid strong for kids, supporting school-based mental health services and investing in the pediatric mental and behavioral workforce."

A little more than a year ago, 9-year-old Derell was struggling in school. He had difficulty focusing, was being bullied and he often would come home sad and upset. Thankfully he got connect with Dr. Nick Young, a pediatric psychologist at the Midtown Clinic. Together, Derell, his mom and Dr. Young developed a plan to help Derell manage his behavior and emotions. Once he had these tools, Derell flourished.

So thankful, Derell and Etta wanted to give back and advocate for other kids. They volunteered to travel to Washington, D.C., as part of Children’s Wisconsin Association’s Family Advocacy Day. There they met with Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, Representative Gwen Moore and legislative staff of Representatives Ron Kind and Mark Pocan. Derell encouraged those lawmakers to support Medicaid and increase mental and behavioral health care for kids — especially school-based care.

Read the full story in the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. 

Children's Wisconsin Media Relations

Staff within the Mental and Behavioral Health Program at Children’s Wisconsin includes experts in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry, pediatric psychology, neuropsychology and psychotherapy.