Closing the Gaps
in Pediatric Mental
Health Care
REACH is the only nonprofit training institute dedicated to expanding pediatric mental health capacity nationwide; equipping healthcare professionals with the skills to act early and change outcomes for children.
See Our ProgramsOUR MISSION
Enhance the nation’s capacity to address pediatric mental health through transformative training for healthcare professionals.
Our Vision
A future where every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to early and effective mental health care.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
These values aren’t aspirational, they’re operational. They’re present in every workshop, every coaching call, and every child who gets better care because their clinician was ready.
Transformation
We believe training should change practice, not just inform it. REACH is built on behavior change science, because lasting impact requires more than a lecture.
Kindness
We meet clinicians where they are, with warmth, respect, and practical support. Learning is harder without it, and care is better because of it.
Community
Peer learning is at the heart of our model. Clinicians learn more from each other than they do from any textbook, and REACH builds that connection intentionally.
Every Child
A child’s zip code should not determine their access to mental health care. REACH works to ensure evidence-based care reaches every child, regardless of background or circumstance.
Training That Changes Lives
REACH training leads to measurable, lasting change; for clinicians, health systems, and the children they serve. Academic studies of our flagship PPP program confirm what our participants already know: REACH training works.
Read the Research99
%
of trained primary care
clinicians changed their
practice
67
%
reduction in mental health
specialist referrals
250
children impacted per EVERY
trained clinician
2.1
m
children (and counting)
supported to date
Find a REACH-Trained Practitioner Near You
The clinicians listed here have completed REACH’s PPP or CATIE training programs and agreed to be listed. This map is a directory only; inclusion does not represent endorsement or certification by the REACH Institute.
Built on a Founding Conviction
Peter S. Jensen, MD, founded The REACH Institute in 2006 with a clear-eyed conviction: the science of children’s mental health had raced ahead of the care children were actually receiving.
As Associate Director of Child and Adolescent Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Dr. Jensen led and contributed to landmark multi-site studies — including the influential Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA).
Read more about Peter
What he witnessed troubled him: scientifically proven treatments were taking 15 to 18 years to reach clinical practice. Children and families were left waiting for help when effective solutions already existed.
After NIMH, Dr. Jensen joined Columbia University, where he developed the model REACH implements today — bringing together scientists, mental health experts, primary care clinicians, parents, and educators to close that gap. The result was REACH’s foundational Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) program, which has trained over 9,000 providers as of 2025.
Dr. Jensen’s commitment to children’s health has earned national recognition, most recently the AARP 2024 Purpose Prize — awarded to founders over 50 building a better future. He continues to lead REACH as Chair of the Board of Directors, PPP Steering Committee Chair, Chief Scientist, and teaching faculty, guiding the work he started nearly two decades ago.
The People Behind the Mission
REACH’s team brings together clinicians, researchers, educators, and advocates united by one goal: more children getting the mental health care they need. Meet the people driving that work every day.
MEET THE TEAMRecognized for Excellence in Mental Health Training
REACH has been honored by leading organizations across healthcare and the nonprofit sector for our evidence-based impact.
2025 Elevate Prize Winner
2024 AARP Purpose Prize Award Winner
2023 Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) Entrepreneur
SOME OF OUR Partners Committed to Expanding Children’s Mental Health Access
REACH collaborates with health systems, government agencies, and philanthropic partners committed to expanding evidence-based mental health care.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Read our annual reports for a clear picture of
REACH’s results and stewardship.
Every Investment Gets More Children the Care They Need
From sponsoring a full training cohort to funding an individual scholarship, every dollar expands access to evidence-based mental health care in the communities that need it most.
Explore Ways to GiveFind the Right Training for You
Browse evidence-based training for primary care
clinicians, mental health clinicians, school support staff,
and healthcare organizations across the U.S.
Common Questions About REACH
Everything you need to know about who we are, how we train, and how to get involved.
REACH is a professional development nonprofit — the only training institute in the U.S. focused exclusively on expanding pediatric mental health capacity nationwide. We deliver evidence-based, intensive training for primary care clinicians, mental health clinicians, and school support staff, equipping them with the skills and confidence to deliver effective mental health care to children and adolescents.
The Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) program is REACH’s flagship training. It combines a dynamic 3-day workshop with twice-monthly case-based learning calls over four months. Led by a national faculty of renowned psychiatrists and primary care clinicians, it equips primary care clinicians to assess, manage, and treat the most common pediatric mental health conditions — including ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
REACH serves primary care clinicians, mental health clinicians, schools, healthcare systems, and residency faculty across the U.S. and Canada. Our programs are specifically designed for real-world settings — practical, applied, and immediately useful in everyday practice.
REACH training goes far beyond a lecture. Our approach is grounded in the science of behavior change and adult learning principles. In plain speak, all REACH training blends interactive workshops, real-life case discussions, peer-to-peer learning, and months of sustained coaching. These modalities and approaches engage participants deeply in the material and provide ongoing support so that participants can make real practice changes that stick. Studies show this model leads to lasting changes in how clinicians practice — not just what they know.
The evidence is clear. 99% of REACH-trained primary care clinicians change their practice following training. Trained clinicians reduce specialist referrals by 67%, shorten waitlists, and reduce emergency room visits. Each trained clinician goes on to impact approximately 250 children with mental health needs each year and 2,500 children over their careers.
Yes. REACH offers customized group training for hospitals and health systems, primary care networks, mental health clinics, and schools, among others — delivered on-site or virtually. We also offer train-the-trainer programs that allow institutions to build internal capacity and expand the model in their communities. Contact us [LINK] to discuss your organization’s needs.
Browse upcoming training opportunities on our Find a Course page. You can register directly online or contact our team for guidance on the right program for you or your institution.
Yes. REACH awards scholarships to primary care clinicians in communities with the greatest mental health needs — ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent dedicated clinicians from accessing training. Visit our Scholarships page to view opportunities.
There are several meaningful ways to support REACH and help transform youth mental health care — from sponsoring training for a group of clinicians in your community to funding individual scholarships. Every investment puts evidence-based mental health care within reach of more children and families. Visit our Ways to Give page to learn more or contact us directly.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is here to help — whether you’re a healthcare professional, a partner, or interested in supporting the mission.
CONTACT USBetter Mental Health Care Starts Here.
Get the latest research, training updates, and practical tools
delivered to your inbox. Join thousands of clinicians working to
improve pediatric mental health outcomes.
Follow us on LinkedIn
July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, an opportunity to recognize the unique mental health challenges that many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities face. BIPOC youth and adults have a right to culturally responsive, evidence-based…
🎉 Registration is now open for the REACH 2026 Alumni Conference & 20th Anniversary Celebration! This September, we're bringing the REACH community together in New York City for a weekend of learning, connection, and celebration. Designed…
🚨 Registration for our July 15 CBT-A course closes this Friday, July 3 “This course provided excellent education not just on the facts about anxiety and CBT but also on the ways to impart this information…
Juneteenth is a time to reflect on our history, celebrate Black freedom and resilience, and recognize that everyone deserves access to compassionate, culturally responsive mental health care. If you or someone you know is looking for…
GET IN TOUCH