CHC

06/04/2026

🎓 Celebrating our Esther B. Clark School graduates!

We recently celebrated a remarkable group of students and the journeys that brought them to this moment.

Each graduate has faced challenges, discovered new strengths, built confidence, and grown in ways that cannot be measured by grades alone. Through hard work, self-discovery, and the support of their community, they have learned to believe in themselves and embrace what makes them unique.

This milestone reflects not only what they have accomplished, but who they have become along the way.

Congratulations, graduates. We are incredibly proud of you and grateful to have been part of your journey. Your Esther B. Clark School family will always be cheering you on as you take your next steps. 💙

06/03/2026

📣 New Voices of Compassion Episode! 📣

What does it mean to truly show up for your child – especially when they’re trying to understand who they are themselves?

As a parent and co-founder of REEL, Callie Turk shares her family’s journey raising her transgender daughter, reflecting on the uncertainty, growth, love, and deep humanity that can exist all at once in parenting.

This conversation explores mental health, identity, family relationships, and the importance of creating spaces where young people feel safe, seen, and supported for who they are.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.chconline.org/resourcelibrary/parenting-with-pride-showing-up-for-your-lgbtqia-child/

06/02/2026

We have a few spots left in our SPOT summer program, which starts June 8!

Give your child (ages 5–9) the gift of feeling understood, building friendships, and having fun while developing essential skills for a successful school year ahead. 💛

Led by CHC’s speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, SPOT is a playful, engaging summer program where kids strengthen social, emotional, sensory, and communication skills through hands-on exploration in art, science, and nature.

June 8–19, 2026
Mon, Wed, Fri | 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
CHC Palo Alto
$1,735 per session (financial assistance available)

Spots are limited to ensure individualized support and a close-knit group experience.
📩 [email protected]
📞 650-688-3625

Give your child the gift of feeling understood, making new friends, and having fun–all while building essential skills to support a great school year ahead. Led by CHC’s speech-language pathologists…

06/02/2026

After an incredible ten-year run honoring Michael Harris and developing the Michael Harris Fund at CHC, The Children’s Health Council and the Harris family have decided to pause the 2026 SteelMike Shootout Tournament this year.

We are deeply grateful to the Harris family, the SteelMike Shootout Committees, Menlo School, the many volunteers, players, sponsors, donors, and every attendee who made this event so meaningful year after year as it grew. Your generosity, dedication, and spirit built something truly extraordinary.

Together, the SteelMike Shootout community and CHC have raised nearly $1.8 million to expand access to mental health services for local teens and families, including CHC’s RISE Intensive Outpatient Program, therapy services, dialectical behavior therapy groups for teens, and educational resources for parents and educators.

While the tournament is paused, the Michael Harris Fund remains a vital part of CHC, continuing to carry Michael’s legacy forward alongside this incredible community.

06/01/2026

Pride Month is a reminder that belonging matters. 🏳️‍🌈

Every person deserves spaces where they can show up fully as themselves, feel supported by their community, and know they are safe exactly as they are. No matter how they choose to celebrate!

This month and every month, we celebrate authenticity, connection, and the many ways people experience pride.

05/28/2026

“One conversation really did change my life.”

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, CHC remains committed to providing critical mental health care and support for children, teens, young adults, and families year-round.

Throughout May, we’ve shared how connection, compassion, and support can make a meaningful difference for young people facing mental health challenges. Your support can make these conversations, and the care that follows, possible.

Please consider making a gift to support CHC’s work and help bring hope and healing to more families in our community by donating here:

https://give.chconline.org/campaign/chc-giving/c427504

05/28/2026

Our Sand Hill School middle schoolers set sail on an unforgettable Discovery Voyage aboard the Research Vessel Robert G. Brownlee!

Departing from the Marine Science Institute in Redwood City, students explored the San Francisco Bay while getting hands on with local marine life and ecosystems. Highlights included touching stingrays, crabs, and even a rare guitarfish, which the crew shared is not often caught!

Experiences like these bring science to life and help our students build a deeper connection to the incredible ecosystems right here in the Bay Area.

05/27/2026

📣 New Voices of Compassion Episode! 📣

What if one of the most powerful things we can offer young people is a relationship that helps them feel seen, valued, and capable of thriving? 💜

Search Institute CEO Dr. Ben Houltberg explores how developmental relationships shape identity, belonging, resilience, and hope – and why “the small things” adults do for young people aren’t really small at all.

🎧 Listen to the conversation and learn how relationships and strengths-based thinking can become the foundation for helping young people thrive. https://www.chconline.org/resourcelibrary/what-young-people-need-most/

05/26/2026

Our recent Teen Panel created an honest and meaningful conversation about the realities many young people face today. Teens shared the pressure of balancing academics, activities, social expectations, and the pace of everyday life, where being constantly busy and sleep-deprived can sometimes feel normalized. They also spoke openly about how social media shapes their daily experiences, self-image, and mental well-being.

Parents reflected on how much they hadn’t fully realized their teens were carrying internally, opening the door for deeper understanding and communication across generations.

Most importantly, teens were given a safe and supportive space to share their truth, feel heard, and know they are not alone.

These conversations matter because youth mental health matters, and creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and understood has never been more important.

05/25/2026

What an unforgettable evening at the Esther B. Clark School Art Show: Elements of Our Emotions!

From interactive art activities and student showcases to BBQ, face painting, yarn art, and fire spinning, the night was a celebration of creativity, connection, and self-expression.

Thank you to our students, families, staff, and partners for making this colorful community event so special.

Special thanks to Ms. Maria, whose creativity and passion for Art Therapy helped create meaningful opportunities for student self-expression. Stay tuned for what she dreams up next!

Photo Credit: Sunny Wan