By Vidya Krishnan, MD
Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director
When it comes to youth mental health, families deserve clear, research-backed information and access to a full range of treatment options. From well-being support and therapy to medication when needed, every individual’s mental health journey is unique—and their care should be guided by trained professionals who empower them with choice. Read more ›
By Jennifer Leydecker, LMFT
Recently the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013-2023. The survey, conducted every two years, focuses on high school students and examines five key areas: the student environment, substance use, sexual health and behaviors, experiences of violence, and mental health (including suicidal thoughts and behaviors). The report provides a 10-year overview of adolescent trends, along with insights from the past two years.
Palo Alto, CA — Children’s Health Council (CHC), a leader in providing comprehensive support for the mental and emotional well–being of children, teens, and young adults, is proud to announce a partnership with Brightlife Kids and Soluna—digital platforms that offer coaching support, mental health resources, and care navigation services for free to California residents, regardless of insurance coverage.
Children’s Health Council is pleased to announce two key new members of our leadership team: Carlina Ramirez Wheeler, PhD, has joined as our new Director of Training, effective July 8, and Tara Keith, MS, MA has been named Director of the Esther B. Clark schools, effective July 15. We are excited to welcome both of them to CHC.
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San Jose – Low-income families and youth in Santa Clara County District Five receiving services for mental health and learning differences through the nonprofit Children’s Health Council (CHC) will soon get additional support from Santa Clara County. A 2024-25 Budget initiative championed by County Supervisor Joe Simitian will allow CHC to use grant funding to address food insecurity and other basic needs that can impact their clients’ ability to access appointments and make gains in their treatment goals.
Children’s Health Council (CHC), a leading provider of mental health and learning difference services in the Bay Area, is pleased to announce the appointment of Garfield Byrd to succeed Terence Boyle as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Garfield brings exceptional experience to CHC, having served in financial leadership roles across prominent nonprofit institutions for over 20 years.
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For years, the Schwab Learning Center (SLC) has been a place for Stanford University students with dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning differences to embrace their strengths, address challenges and better understand the ways their minds work. Read more ›
Dear CHC Community,
As we process the shocking news from Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, our collective hearts break for the victims, their loved ones and the communities to which they belong. And for all of us, really, who are once again reminded of the fragility of life and senseless acts of violence that occur even in our peaceful neighboring towns. Read more ›
Family-friendly event celebrates the legacy of a Menlo School basketball star and school counselor with a basketball tournament that raises critical funds for adolescent mental health services at CHC.
Children’s Health Council (CHC), a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that offers mental health and learning services to children, teens and young adults, and the Michael Harris Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes mental wellness among adolescents and emerging adults, are excited to announce that the SteelMike Shootout will return to Menlo School on August 28. Registration is open now and free for spectators. Read more ›
Children’s Health Council (CHC) has announced that its Clinical Services division, which provides best-in-class psychological and psychiatric care and expert diagnostic evaluation services for young children through young adults, will now be known as the Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services, effective immediately. Read more ›
The Board of Directors for Children’s Health Council (CHC) has announced the selection of Dr. Ryan C. Eisenberg to succeed Dr. Rosalie Whitlock as CEO of CHC. This announcement is the result of a nine-month comprehensive search. Read more ›
Students and community leaders came together for a special event to raise awareness and funds for teen mental health. The Menlo Voices for Hope student committee presented Music for Mental Health, a benefit concert April 3, 2022, with performances, speakers and art at the Spieker Center on the campus of Menlo School. Read more ›
October is the month in which we highlight the need for depression awareness and accessible and affordable mental health screenings. Read more ›
Dr. Rosalie Whitlock, CEO of Children’s Health Council, today announced that the Schwab Learning Center at CHC will open this fall. The Center is supported by a generous endowment gift from The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation. The program will provide supportive services to university and high school students with learning and attention challenges as well as the mental health issues that often accompany them. Read more ›
Our CEO Dr. Rosalie Whitlock shares, “We are so fortunate to have an exceptional professional like Vidya on our staff–a deeply compassionate and committed individual who can provide strong leadership in this critical role at CHC.” Read more ›
The Board of Directors for Children’s Health Council (CHC) today announced that the organization’s Chief Executive Officer Rosalie Whitlock, PhD. has made the decision to retire a year from now on June 30, 2022, beginning a thoughtfully-planned leadership transition that will take place over the next year. Dr. Whitlock’s retirement marks the completion of a remarkable career of over 30 years of service as a passionate and tireless advocate for children and their families. Read more ›
In an interview withe the Nob Hill Gazette, CHC’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Ramsey Khasho, offers invaluable insight on what many children, young adults and families have been facing — and invites parents to take an active approach to their children’s mental health. Read more ›
CHC has been a hub for resources for youth mental health, learning differences, ADHD, anxiety, depression and autism. The year 2023 will mark 70 years since Peninsula-based pediatrician Dr. Esther B. Clark founded Children’s Health Council as “a place where kids come first,” with its clinical services, community clinic and the Sand Hill School and Esther B. Clark Schools. Numerous points of connection, including a podcast, blog, workshops, resource library and now, telehealth access, have expanded greatly over the last year to meet increased demand. Read more ›
PALO ALTO, Calif. February 11, 2021– Twitter and Square Co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey has awarded Children’s Health Council (CHC) $2.5 million to support the Bay Area agency’s COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Initiative to build capacity to respond to the mental health needs of children, teens, young adults and families that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Read more ›
Nine months into the global pandemic, Riley Capuano told a grid of faces on a Zoom screen why she and her peers needed schools to reopen.
“I’ve never seen this many students struggling with mental health,” the Los Altos High School junior said during a virtual school board meeting on Dec. 14. “Being cooped up in your home all day is really, really tough. Read more ›
CHC is thrilled to introduce a new podcast series, Voices of Compassion.
2020. The year that will not end. We started with COVID-19 in March and sheltering in place. And then layered on school closure and added distance learning. On top of that, we’ve experienced social unrest regarding race and tens of thousands of people evacuated due to wildfires. How much more can we take? Read more ›
The goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to raise awareness of ADHD, remove the stigma, and highlight the available supports that enable individuals and families to thrive with ADHD. Read more ›
In 1990, the American Psychological Association (APA) accredited a consortium internship program between Children’s Health Council (CHC) and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford (LPCH). Thirty years later, the prestigious program receives well over 100 applications annually for just four spots, attracting the top doctoral students from around the country.
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Dr. Vidya Krishnan, Head of Adolescent Mental Health Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Children’s Health Council, appeared on KTVU News to discuss strategies for coping with the anxiety and stress many families are experiencing as children head back to school remotely. Read more ›
Half Moon Bay resident Rosalie Whitlock is one person focused on the effects of the pandemic on the well-being of kids. She is the CEO of the Children’s Health Council, which operates schools to support kids with learning disabilities and offers mental health counseling. Read more ›
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Mental Health month creates awareness about the unique experiences and struggles individuals who identify as BIPOC encounter with respect to mental health. Read more ›
For young people who struggle with suicidal and/or self-harm urges and behaviors, Stanford Children’s Health in collaboration with Children’s Health Council, offers a specialized intervention program that is currently enrolling families for their summer/fall session. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce that, beginning this week, limited assessment and evaluation services will now be available in-person at CHC. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
We are all struggling to process the upsetting events that are unfolding in our country right now. We stand with our communities to oppose racism, hatred and bigotry of any kind and we continue to work each and every day with our colleagues, friends and neighbors to realize a vision of hope for the future.
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CHC is offering free online community education sessions and virtual parent support groups that address your challenges and concerns and provide strategies and resources to support your child, your family and yourself as we navigate this time of disruption and uncertainty.
We’re all in this together, and CHC is here to help. Read more ›
Join us as we figure out how to cope in place. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
Shelter in place. Be a perfect parent. Be an instant teacher. Be an outstanding employee.
Many of us are being expected to be all things to all people, all at once. Not surprisingly, the strain is taking a toll on our mental health. CHC can help you and your family wherever you are on this emotional and unpredictable journey. Read more ›
Chris Harris, Chief Schools Officer for CHC and the Interim head of Sand Hill School, has been honored with a Community Hero Award for his exemplary service as a professional educator who “has taken the extra steps in providing behavioral health services by going beyond his job description.” Read more ›
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate the community about mental and behavioral health issues, promote access to care and treatment, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. Read more ›
The United State Department of Education has announced a new grant program offering $307.5 million in funds for states to “create adaptable, innovative learning opportunities for K-12 and postsecondary learners in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.” Read more ›
Our partners at Stanford Medicine have recently launched an incredibly helpful initiative called the National Daily Health Survey. The information collected will help inform policymakers and public guidance as we work globally to fight the spread of COVID-19. Read more ›
Dr. Ramsey Khasho, chief clinical officer at Children’s Health Council, appeared on KTVU News to discuss how parents can address children’s negative behavior during the COVID-19 health crisis. Read more ›
With local youth and families sheltering at home, counseling sessions and support groups that used to take place face-to-face in school wellness centers, clinics and private offices across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties have gone completely virtual. Read more ›
Dear Friends,
As we continue to navigate the catastrophic physical tolls of COVID-19, there is growing concern about the impact of the crisis on our mental health. A recent Washington Post article states that “the pandemic has escalated into a nationwide psychological trauma,” adding, “if you’re scared, anxious, depressed, struggling to sleep through the night, or just on edge, you’re not alone.” Read more ›
California’s schools chief Tony Thurmond is recommending that the state’s public schools plan to provide distance learning to students through the end of their school year. Read more ›
The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction, including housing construction.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom advised school districts on Tuesday that they should expect to be closed the rest of the school year. On Wednesday, a 75-minute webinar led by the California Department of Education, viewed by about 7,000 people, provided guidance on how to provide distance learning, meals for students and limited child care while schools are shut down because of the coronavirus. Read more ›
Our thoughts are with you and your families during this unprecedented time. We are all doing our best to slow down and care for one another while we navigate uncharted territory with patience, kindness and grace.
CHC remains committed to the children, teens and young adults with learning and mental health challenges throughout the Bay Area, today and always. Read more ›
Comcast’s Internet Essentials helps connect low-income families to the internet at home. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95 per month plus tax. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly and we want to keep you informed so you can make plans for your family. As you know, earlier today six Bay Area counties issued Shelter-In-Place orders: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda and Contra Costa. You can access details about this order here. As a result, CHC’s Palo Alto, Ravenswood and South Bay offices will close at midnight on March 16. Most mental health services will be addressed via telehealth. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
As we all make our way through the uncharted waters of COVID-19, the health and safety of our clients, students, families and staff are the top priority, so we are reaching out to you. The situation remains fluid. Guidelines have been changing on a daily/hourly basis. Our Emergency Response Team has been closely monitoring the rapidly-changing situation so we can make responsible decisions and keep you informed. Read more ›
We are continuing to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 at CHC and as a result, we are planning to deliver the remainder of our Community Education sessions online. Read more ›
On Wednesday, March 4, Reddit announce that is has joined forces with Crisis Text Line, a text message based crisis support hotline, to provide counseling to users who might be at risk of self harm. Anyone on Reddit can now flag a fellow user who they think might be struggling with self-harm or suicide based on something they post on the site. Read more ›
Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,
As you are no doubt aware, several cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) were diagnosed in Santa Clara County this weekend. Global circumstances suggest and experts recommend preparing for more widespread transmission. Read more ›
Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps is being honored as PRWeek’s Communicator of the Year in recognition of his work to reduce stigma around depression and mental health issues. Read more ›
