History

The Fox Valley Children's Mental Health Center opened in Menasha in January 2009.

Like most communities in the U.S., The Fox Valley area has long had a severe shortage of pediatric behavioral health services, as noted in the Fox Cities 2006 LIFE (Leading Indicators for Excellence) study. Although several health care systems – including Affinity Health System, Children's Service Society of Wisconsin and ThedaCare – were offering these services in the Fox Valley, they could not meet the community's demand.

To address this need, Affinity, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley and ThedaCare agreed to join forces to open the Fox Valley Children's Mental Health Center. Read the media release announcing the partnership. The center opened in January 2009 near the intersection of Hwys. 47 and 441 in Menasha.

This partnership was a first-of-its-kind collaboration between competing health care systems in the Fox Valley. At the same time, Affinity and ThedaCare agreed to create a seamless insurance environment to help eliminate financial barriers to receiving care.

The center was remarkable not only in that it brought together three competitors for the benefit of the children, but also because it inspired overwhelming support from the community. Fundraising efforts secured more than $2 million, thanks to a $625,000 matching grant from the John J. & Ethel D. Keller Donor Advised Fund in the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, and a $500,000 matching grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships. Many other local funding partners also provided significant support, including: