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November 13, 2023 / 2023 Connecticut's Healthcare Heroes Awards

2023 Healthcare Hero: Amber W. Childs

Amber W. Childs, Yale School of Medicine   Assistant Professor, Psychiatry; Director of Training, Psychology Doctoral Internship; Co-Director, Division of Quality and Innovation, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital   Return to the honorees homepage
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Winner Category | Advancement in Healthcare - Innovation

Dr. Amber W. Childs is a licensed clinical psychologist. Her work aims to improve equity, access and outcomes in mental health services and education through data-driven quality improvement and a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Childs is a national leader in program innovations that aim to improve clinical and educational practices.

What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?

Teenagers in the U.S. are experiencing a mental health crisis, and most youth who need support are not getting the help that they need.

Month-long waitlists, therapist shortages and problems getting access are rampant. I created a comprehensive digital health solution that gives teenagers clinically-proven, science-backed mental health support and uses data to make sure that teenagers, treatment providers and parents are in sync about mental health.

I also co-founded and direct the Getting Racism Out of Our Work (GROW) Initiative at Yale, which includes innovative programming to create racially and culturally responsive mental health educators and leaders.

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Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.

Transparency, collaboration and keeping the voices of people receiving mental health services are core values. Measurement-based care helps mental health providers put these values into action.

Jump-starting this practice within such a large health system with many moving parts was a challenge. Proudly, the Joint Commission cited our work as the Gold Standard.

What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?

Driving innovation at a large-scale is my bread and butter. I want accessible, personalized and empowering mental health resources for every single teenager who needs support.

Creating digital solutions that keep patient voices at the center, and that scale beyond our health system is a challenge I’m ready for!

Personal Side

Favorite way to relax: Any kind of movement practice — weight training, cycling, stretching. Oh, and naps.

Hobbies: Soccer, (newly) tennis, anything related to the Peloton ecosystem, imagining and dreaming with my kindergartener and husband.

Favorite movie: “Hocus Pocus”

Currently reading: “The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature,” by J. Drew Lanham

Favorite cause: The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health

Fun fact: I am a Gold Medal Tae-Kwon-Do champion. I won first place when no one else in my weight class showed up to compete!

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