KENOSHA, Wis. — A critical disparity in care for children experiencing a mental health crisis was significantly narrowed Friday.
Children’s Wisconsin has opened its second walk-in mental health clinic in the state at a Kenosha location near Interstate 94 and Highway 50.
“Families have told us they need somewhere else for an emergency,” said Amy Herbst, vice president of mental and behavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin. “So we listened to them.”
The Kenosha clinic builds on the success of the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-in Clinic in Milwaukee. This was funded by her $3 million donation from Kohl’s.
Both clinics are staffed by licensed therapists, social workers, and clinic assistants. Children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 can receive immediate care without the need for an appointment or referral.
“We’ve tried new and different things that we’ve never done before, and we’ve had widespread success,” Herbst said.
The Kenosha clinic opened Friday at 1 p.m. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 PM to 6:30 PM, with expanded hours planned in the future.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Children’s Mental Health’s annual report, one in 10 Wisconsin teens has attempted suicide, and half of all children have depression, anxiety, or behavioral disorders. He has been diagnosed with the above problem.
At the same time, half of Wisconsin youth report difficulty accessing mental health services.
“We see many students and families struggling with mental health,” said Stacey Guckenberger, director of special education and student support for the Kenosha Unified School District.
“And just having that access is really important. It also drives some acceptance because mental health is also an issue.”
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