Free mental health support with BrightLife Kids

Yes. Coaching through BrightLife Kids is 100% free for every California child ages 0–12 years old and their parents or caregivers. The State of California has fully funded this program, which is why it’s free for families. 

Therapy is not included as part of the free BrightLife Kids coaching program. Therapy is recommended for kids who require close monitoring for safety reasons, have been struggling for a long time, or have more complex challenges that are significantly impacting their day-to-day life. The cost of therapy may be lower if it is covered by insurance. If you have insurance and therapy is recommended for your child, we can help you identify resources in your area.

The partnership between BrightLife Kids and the State of California will last for several years — and the program will be free to every California family with kids ages 0–12 for the length of that partnership. The California Department of Health Care Services is working to extend BrightLife Kids beyond that time.

No. There is no limit to the number of coaching sessions.. Families will typically schedule weekly sessions to reach their goals, but this can vary based on the child’s needs. BrightLife Kids is designed to be a short-term support system — our goal is to teach kids and their families the skills that they need now, so they are empowered to help themselves in the future.

Coaching sessions are typically 30 minutes long.

There is no limit to the family’s access to services. Parents and caregivers can start by accessing content, or start in 1:1 coaching with their child, or get guidance and referrals from our Coach Specialists to services in the community. Our door is open to families to dip in and out of any of these services over time, as we recognize that they may need different kinds of support at different times.

Both! Brightline is the name of our whole company. BrightLife Kids is the name for the set of services created in partnership with CalHOPE and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and available to children and families in the State of California. .

Yes and yes. All of our 1:1 coaching is conducted largely by video and chat, and in some cases by phone. We’ve found that kids often feel more relaxed and open to sharing from the comfort and privacy of their home. It’s not only more private, it isconvenient andhighly effective. A recent survey showed that 85% of parents who used virtual behavioral health services said their child benefited from care.

Our goal from the start is to get your child the right care, right away. To do that, we ask you a brief set of questions to better understand what is going on with your child and what you need help with. Those questions — and your answers — help us provide guidance on what might be the best starting point for care given your child’s unique needs or your concerns.

For many kids, coaching will be the right first step. BrightLife Kids offers live, 1:1 video sessions with a coach who gets to know your family over time, so there’s no starting over every session. We have a large library of articles and videos to help you learn more about how to manage common challenges that kids face at different ages and stages. And parents and caregivers can always send a secure chat to their coach anytime (day or night) to ask questions and get guidance. A coach will respond within 24 business hours.

Sometimes, a child may need a higher level of care than coaching can provide if they require close monitoring for safety reasons, have been struggling with challenges for a long time, or have more complex challenges that are significantly impacting their day to day life.

If this seems to be the case, BrightLife Kids can still help. To learn more, the family will be invited to a session with a Coach Specialist. Together you can talk about the best path forward based on your child’s unique needs. If coaching is right for them, you’ll be able to schedule a session. If not, your Coach Specialist is able to help you find high-quality therapy, psychiatry, or other specialized services in your community at a low cost.

So, whether coaching or another kind of care is right for your child, know that you don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. Everyone can come through the BrightLife Kids front door and find the help they need.

No. BrightLife Kids families do not get charged a $50 cancellation fee (or any fees!).

Coaching is focused on teaching kids and their families skills to manage concerns such as sleep issues, worry, tantrums, and more. Coaching is done via 30-minute sessions with a goal of helping kids learn to express big feelings in healthy ways, develop day-to-day skills, and understand themselves. Coaching with BrightLife Kids is 100% free.

Therapy is recommended when the child is experiencing more complex challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other concerns that are significantly impacting their functioning in daily life and/or are creating safety issues. Therapists can diagnose and treat these concerns in a safe and supportive environment, helping kids and their families learn to manage these concerns effectively. Finally, therapists can refer members to psychiatric services if medication is needed. Therapy is not part of the free BrightLife Kids coaching program.

Yes. We have coaches specifically trained to support families who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Coaching helps with typical challenges and behaviors related to ASD (e.g., reading social cues, communication, and transitions). And our library of articles and on-demand resources helps parents and caregivers find answers to questions about ASD (e.g., treatment options and sleep challenges) both pre- and post-diagnosis.

Yes, when written permission from a parent or caregiver is on file, our coaches are able to share information about a student/child as it relates to helping coordinate care with other important people in the child’s life, like pediatricians or school counselors, teachers, or aides. The coach can also help write letters to your child’s teacher or counselor to ask about setting up a support framework at school, connect with school staff via phone, provide care option summaries, etc. Depending on the unique needs of the child, the communication might happen once, or it could be ongoing.

If a parent or caregiver wants this kind of communication to occur, they can ask their child’s coach or Member Support for a Release of Information form. They will need to indicate what information can be shared, list who should receive that information, and sign and return the form to their child’s coach. The parent or caregiver can withdraw permission at any time by contacting their child’s coach or a Member Support representative.

Coaching sessions can be scheduled between 9am–8pm PST. Chat messages can be sent anytime and coaches will respond within one business day.