In plain words

CHIP stands for Children's Health Insurance Program. It provides free or very low-cost health insurance to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private coverage. You apply through your state, and in many states children can be enrolled even when their parents do not qualify.

Children and teenagers feel stress, sadness, fear, and worry, just as adults do, and sometimes those feelings grow into something that needs help. Mental health conditions in young people are common and treatable, and getting help early makes a real difference (NIMH). You are not alone in this: nearly 1 in 5 US children ages 3 to 17 has ever been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition, and the most common are anxiety, behavior problems, and depression (CDC). As a parent or caregiver, you do not need perfect English, and you do not need to figure this out by yourself. This guide explains the signs to watch for and the many doors that can help.

At a glance
  • Good first doors: your child's doctor, the school counselor, or a community mental health center or CCBHC.
  • Medicaid and CHIP cover children's counseling and therapy; call 1-877-KIDS-NOW to learn what your state offers.
  • Public schools must evaluate a child with an emotional or behavioral condition, and you have the right to a free interpreter at every meeting.

NIMH's Child and Adolescent Mental Health page, a plain-language federal resource on warning signs and where to find help. Screenshot captured June 30, 2026.

Signs to watch for

Every child has hard days. What matters is a change that lasts for weeks and gets in the way of daily life. In younger children, watch for frequent tantrums or intense irritability, a lot of worry or fear, stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause, trouble sitting still, sleep problems, or sudden struggles at school. In older children and teens, watch for losing interest in things they used to enjoy, low energy, sleeping too much or too little, pulling away from friends and family, eating much more or less, harming themselves, using alcohol or drugs, or talking about death or suicide (NIMH; MedlinePlus: Teen Mental Health). If your child talks about suicide or hurting themselves, take it seriously and get help right away.

Where to start

You have more than one good first door, and you can pick the one that feels easiest.

  • Your child’s doctor or pediatrician. The first step is often to talk with your child’s regular doctor about getting an evaluation (CDC). The doctor can check whether something physical is involved, do a short screening, and refer you to a specialist.
  • The school counselor or school psychologist. Schools have staff trained to support students’ emotional and behavioral needs, and this help is usually free.
  • A community mental health center or a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). These clinics serve children and teens regardless of ability to pay, and they offer counseling, evaluation, and crisis care in one place.

What schools must do

Public schools have legal duties here. Under a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools must evaluate a child who may have a disability, including an emotional or behavioral condition, and provide a free appropriate public education through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) when the child qualifies (U.S. Department of Education, IDEA). A separate law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, requires schools to remove barriers and give support to students with disabilities so they can learn alongside their peers (U.S. Department of Education).

You can start this by asking the school in writing to evaluate your child. Send your request to the principal or the district’s special education director, and keep a copy with the date on it. Once you give written consent for the evaluation, the school generally must finish it within 60 days, or within the timeframe your state sets (U.S. Department of Education). You have the right to take part in every meeting, to see the results, and to disagree. The school must also give you a free interpreter for these meetings, calls, and letters so you can take part fully in your own language.

Request in writingask the school to evaluate your child; keep a dated copy
School evaluatesgenerally within 60 days of your written consent
IEP or 504 supportservices if your child qualifies
How to start special education services at a public school.

Paying for care

Two public programs, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), cover children’s mental and behavioral health, including counseling, therapy, and outpatient services (InsureKidsNow.gov; Medicaid). If your child has Medicaid, a benefit called EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) covers all the mental health care a child under 21 medically needs, including screening, evaluation, counseling, and therapy, even some services that are not otherwise covered for adults in your state (Medicaid). So if a doctor says your child needs a service, it is worth asking for it by name. Whether a child qualifies depends on the family’s income and, in some cases, immigration status, and these rules differ from state to state and can change over time. Some states use their own funds to cover children no matter their immigration status. Because this is exactly the kind of rule that varies by state, do not assume; to learn what is true for your family right now, call your state Medicaid or CHIP office, or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669). A community health worker can help you check and apply.

Ask for services by name

If your child has Medicaid, the EPSDT benefit covers all the mental health care a child under 21 medically needs. If a doctor says your child needs a service, it is worth asking for it by name.

What to expect when you get help

The first visit is usually about getting to know your child, not a hard test. A provider will ask about your child’s feelings, sleep, school, friends, and family, often using simple questionnaires. They may talk with you and your child together, and then spend a little time with your child alone, which is normal and helps the child speak openly. From there, help often looks like regular talk therapy (sometimes called counseling), family sessions, or support at school, and only sometimes medicine, which a doctor would discuss and decide with you. Treatment works, and starting early gives your child the best chance (CDC). You can bring your list of questions, and you can bring a free interpreter so nothing gets lost.

Crisis help and confidentiality

If your child is in crisis

Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. It is free and confidential, for parents and teens alike, with interpreters in more than 240 languages.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is for young people too. Anyone, including a worried parent or a teen, can call or text 988 any time, free and confidential, with interpreters in more than 240 languages; a phone interpreter usually joins in about 20 seconds, and most contacts are handled with support alone, without police or an ambulance (SAMHSA). For what to expect, see If you are in a crisis.

One thing to know: as teens get older, some conversations with a provider may be kept private from parents, and the rules differ by state and by topic. In many states, teens can agree to some outpatient mental health care on their own starting somewhere around age 12 to 16 (National Center for Youth Law). This is meant to help teens speak honestly. Ask the clinic how it handles this so there are no surprises.

Help that fits your language and culture

You have the right to a provider who respects your family’s language, faith, and culture, and you have the right to a free, qualified interpreter for yourself as the parent, so you can take part fully (your right to an interpreter). Your child should never be asked to interpret medical information. To find culturally responsive care, see Mental health across cultures. To find a clinic near you, use findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov or FindTreatment.gov, or dial 2-1-1. You can also ask the chatbot to help you prepare questions, and a community health worker can sit with you through the call.

Sources

LINC is a research prototype, not a medical or legal service. Translation can be wrong; you have the right to a free, qualified interpreter. For anything high-stakes, do it with a community health worker or someone you trust. In a crisis, call or text 988, or 911 for immediate danger.