The Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) supports Wisconsin’s children in achieving their optimal social and emotional well-being. Our charge is to study, recommend strategies, and coordinate initiatives to improve integration of children’s mental health services across state agencies. OCMH was created in the 2013-15 biennial budget, began operating in 2014, and celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2024.
Our strategic focus is social connectedness of youth, and we convene stakeholders around improving youth belonging and social connections. Our goal is straightforward: if youth have vibrant, positive connections with family, peers, and supportive adults, their foundation will be strong, and they will be better prepared to build relationships as they move through life.
We report directly to the Governor, but receive administrative support from Department of Health Services.
Our Values: Collaborative across systems · Data driven · Family and youth guided · Promote inclusivity and equity among all stakeholders
Our Vision: Wisconsin’s children are safe, nurtured and supported to achieve their optimal mental health and well-being. Systems are family-friendly, easy to navigate, equitable, and inclusive of all people.
Foundational to our Work
There are three foundational pillars our office is built on:
Systems Change
Lived Experience
Research and Data
Systems Change
OCMH's goal for families navigating the children's mental health systems in Wisconsin is that they know where to go and get the help they need. Too often, however, we hear that families don't know where to start, that the system is complicated, and families get discouraged with long wait times and getting a diagnosis. We want systems to work for our families and children.
Towards that end, we bring people from all parts of children's mental health together to focus on improving the integration of children's mental health services in Wisconsin. Centered in those discussions is the voice of lived experience – parents and caregivers of children with mental health challenges and the youth themselves (see more below on lived experience).
OCMH resources for families navigating the children's mental health system:
Lived Experience
We firmly believe that in order to transform systems we must partner with people who have lived experience – parents, caregivers, and young people who are personally connected to children’s mental health challenges and services. The Office of Children’s Mental Health leverages the perspective of parents and young people through OCMH Lived Experience Partners.
These leaders from across Wisconsin share their authentic, invaluable perspective on how to improve the well-being of children and families. We’ve seen huge benefits as our collective impact teams follow the wisdom of lived experience leaders.
By including the lived experience voice in system change efforts we can help tear down barriers to create a more equitable and inclusive landscape for children’s mental health in Wisconsin.
Research and Data
Data drives our work. We track key indicators, review data for understanding and direction, and publish a number of valuable data-focused resources:
- Child Well-Being Indicators – presents
data on 41 well-being factors that cover clinical, social, economic, and
individual health categories.
- Fact Sheets – periodic two-page informational pieces take a deep dive into a tropic relevant to children’s mental health and offer actionable recommendations.
- Key Facts in Youth Mental Health Snapshot – a snapshot of the key challenges facing Wisconsin's youth.
- Data Bites – offers bite-sized information in a visual format on individual key children's mental health data points.
- Annual Report – reviews the current well-being of Wisconsin’s youth and highlights OCMH work.
- Research News in Youth Mental Health – monthly e-newsletter specific to research and data in youth mental health.
OCMH strives to use data that focuses on those who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty, systematic injustice, and structural inequities.
If you have difficulty accessing our materials, or using our website, please let us know by emailing OCMH@wi.gov. We take digital accessibility seriously and welcome the opportunity to remove any barriers in accessing content.