Children’s Mercy Marks Milestone in Illuminate Initiative, Improving Access and Expanding Care for Youth Mental Health

Two years ago, Children’s Mercy announced Illuminate, a bold, five-year initiative to address the growing mental health needs of children and teens across the region. Today, Children’s Mercy celebrates the progress made—and the lives changed—thanks to the power of community collaboration.

“Illuminate is more than a plan—it’s our promise. We set out to transform youth mental health care, and today that vision is taking shape. From classrooms to clinics, research to recovery rooms, our community has built something remarkable,” said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Children’s Mercy. “We’re proud of the progress, but we know the journey continues. With ongoing support, we’ll keep advancing—because every child deserves to be seen, supported and well.”

As the nation confronts an unprecedented youth mental health crisis, Illuminate is transforming how families access care through 14 planned projects, aimed to reach more than 80,000 children in the area. By focusing on four key areas, the initiative is already making a measurable difference—launching the following projects and illuminating pathways to brighter futures. 

Facilitating Early Intervention

• Behavioral health embedded in primary care: Three community-based practices now offer integrated behavioral health services, with the goal of adding a fourth this fall. More than 2,100 visits have already connected children to care—reducing wait times from months to minutes.
• School-based support: A partnership with Center School District in eight schools serving 2,500+ students improving access to behavioral health education and support in the school setting. In just one school year, seven out of eight schools reported fewer office discipline referrals.
• Streamlined access: The new “One Front Door” intake process creates a seamless entry point for families seeking behavioral health care at Children’s Mercy, simplifying this process for almost 10,000 families since its launch.

Increasing Specialty Services

• DAY Clinic: The Depression and Anxiety in Youth (DAY) Clinic has provided multidisciplinary care to over 250 youth. Over 70% of youth who have completed the program report reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. The program has added care coordination, increased community outreach and is building partnerships across Illuminate to support youth in all aspects of their mental health journey.
• Eating disorders care: Children’s Mercy now offers the only specialized program in the region for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Children receive treatment tailored to their specific needs (medical, behavioral, nutrition, occupational therapy), to support an individualized approach to care.
• Rapid diagnosis pilot: A pilot program is streamlining access to Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments, helping families get answers and next steps faster. Plans are underway to expand this model to increase access to diagnostic assessment for other emotional and behavioral concerns.
• Autism and Neurodevelopmental Continuity Clinic: More than 500 families have been supported through this new clinic, which bridges the gap between diagnosis and autism-specific care.

Investing in Research & Innovation

• Ongoing research: Children’s Mercy researchers are leading the way in pediatric mental health research seeking to identify the causes of behavioral health conditions, develop personalized therapeutics, advance digital mental health technologies and transform models of care to improve access.
• Future growth: Children’s Mercy, in collaboration with external advisors, is mapping out next steps to build on its strong foundation of research and innovation—leveraging opportunities to expand research that will transform mental and behavioral health care.

Expanding Acute Care Services

• Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Wellness Campus: Opened in December 2024, this 72,700-square-foot inpatient psychiatric hospital added 48 pediatric beds—a 29% increase in regional capacity. The facility is operating at full capacity, with more than 1,500 pediatric admissions to date.
• PATH Clinic: Since opening at the beginning of the year, the PATH Clinic has provided more than 300 visits, bridging the vulnerable gap between emergency care and community providers.
• Partial Hospitalization Program: Opened in August, the program bridges the gap between inpatient and outpatient services, offering a more intensive level of care for children and adolescents who need more comprehensive treatment than traditional outpatient programs can provide, but do not require full hospitalization.

Two more in-hospital services are expected to launch by early next  year. The Emergency Mental Health Crisis Center will be a dedicated space in the Emergency Department designed to be a calm, safe environment for patients experiencing a mental health crisis. And 5 West, an innovative model of inpatient medical care, will open in one of the medical-surgical units, offering fully integrated care in a space designed for children who have both medical and psychiatric needs.

“We’re witnessing a shift in how mental health care is delivered and it’s happening because we’re listening to families, partnering with schools and embedding care where kids already are,” said Rebecca Johnson, PhD, ABPP, Clinical Psychologist, Division Director for Developmental and Behavioral Health. “Illuminate has allowed us to meet children earlier in their journey, explore models of care that improve access, and offer specialized services that didn’t exist before. It’s not just about access—it’s about impact. And we’re just getting started.”

A 5-year, $150M funding goal was set to ignite the Illuminate initiative. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of more than 5,000 donors and a $25 million appropriation from the State of Missouri, Children’s Mercy is close to achieving this in record time—securing 87% to date.

Yet there’s still work to be done. Inspired by the incredible work of Illuminate and its mental health champions, an anonymous donor has given a $17 million gift to match every dollar raised until Children’s Mercy reaches its $150 million goal. Every gift, every partnership and every act of support brings the community closer to a future where every child has access to the mental health care they deserve.

To learn more about Illuminate, access a mental health toolkit or double your impact with a donation today, visit https://www.childrensmercy.org/illuminate.