Almost 1 in 5 children suffer from a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. To address this crisis, Wisconsin families in need of immediate mental health care now have access to a new clinic in Kenosha. The Children’s Wisconsin Kenosha Clinic opened in February 2024 and is one of only two clinics in Wisconsin offering such services.
Children and teens ages 5-18 can walk into the clinic without needing an appointment or referral and receive care right away. The Kenosha clinic, like its counterpart in Milwaukee, is staffed by licensed therapists, social workers, and clinic assistants. Amy Herbst, the vice president of mental and behavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin, emphasizes the importance of providing support and access to mental health services for kids and families. She describes the walk-in clinics as ‘urgent care’ for mental health and encourages those in need to seek help without hesitation.
The support for the Kenosha clinic was made possible through Kohl’s Cares Goods for Good initiative, which sells children’s books and toys and donates all net profits to health and wellness organizations nationwide. Jill Timm, Kohl’s chief financial officer and a board member of Children’s Wisconsin, recognizes the mental health crisis facing our nation, particularly among youth, and applauds the walk-in clinic for addressing this challenge
