The Kids Mental Health Foundation

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the founder and creator of the nation’s leading children’s mental health movement, The Kids Mental Health Foundation.

The Foundation was created out of the hospital’s commitment to address the youth mental health crisis – not just for kids in its backyard, but for kids everywhere. And now that work has reached more than 15 million people across the United States.

Creating A National Children's Mental Health Movement

Launched on World Mental Health Day 2018 as the On Our Sleeves Movement For Children’s Mental Health, On Our Sleeves’ goal was to start conversations, break stigmas and provide much-needed free resources to families, caregivers, educators and coaches across the U.S.

The response was overwhelming, and the impact was immediate. Audiences from all over the country began engaging with On Our Sleeves.

From an impressive 1 million engagements from launch until the end of 2019, that reach has grown rapidly, to more than 8.5 million people in 2023.

A Growing Commitment

In 2024, The On Our Sleeves Movement for Children’s Mental Health expanded its mission to become The Kids Mental Health Foundation.

This transformation reflects the spirit of our mission to provide free, expert-created resources to all U.S. communities so everyone can understand and promote mental health for children. We will work to make sure all grown-ups don’t feel powerless when it comes to their kids’ mental health. We will help adults build healthy, empathetic, communicative relationships with the kids in their lives - so no child ever feels alone.

We have the power to change the future for our kids.