Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health

The Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) supports Wisconsin's children in achieving their optimal mental health and well-being. By encouraging collaboration across child and family service systems in Wisconsin, including state agencies, nongovernment mental health programs, advocates, and people with lived experience, OCMH supports children's mental health system improvements.

Help For Your Family

Annual Report/Fact Sheets

Youth Belonging

School Mental Health

News and Events

Children's Mental Health Week will be May 3 - May 9

2026 Theme: Wired for Belonging

As human beings, we are wired for belonging. This Children's Mental Health Week we are emphasizing the simple things anyone can do to promote youth belonging.

Access the free resources on our Children's Mental Health Week webpage.

Building Mental Wellness: Ready-to-Use Messages

The Office of Children's Mental Health is launching a short, monthly message on youth mental wellness that you can “copy and drop" into your newsletter or communication. The Building Mental Wellness Copy & Drop will provide a ready-to-use short message and will be emailed the third Tuesday of each month from OCMH. All you have to do is sign up to receive it and then “copy and drop" it into your publications.

Sign up here (select “OCMH – Building Mental Wellness Copy & Drop").

Topics in the near future will include: connection before correction, the relationship between mental and physical health, everyday actions to improve mental health, sleep and mental health, and many more. Our first one will be emailed May 19.

The Mental Health Toll of Financial Hardship

Children who live in financial hardship are significantly more likely to be bullied, have anxiety and depression, and develop substance use problems. And those who face chronic financial hardship and experience poverty in their early years are especially at risk for mental health problems.

What We Can Do

Parents & Caregivers: Be aware that your stress impacts your child. Model healthy coping skills to hangle stress.

Policymakers: Support funding for proven preventative practices, including safety net programs that help families cover basic needs like housing, food, and child care costs.

Schools: Advocate for universal free school meals.

Communities: Advocate for more low-income, high-quality housing.

Learn more by reviewing the Financial Hardship and Children’s Mental Health Fact Sheet.

ALICE Focuses on Households Experiencing Financial Hardship

The Federal Poverty Level doesn’t account for many households that are struggling financially. The ALICE Household Survival Budget takes these families into consideration. 35% of Wisconsin households are ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

Learn more about ALICE in our newest Showcasing Solutions.