Children's Wisconsin is a participant in the Preventing Youth Suicide Collaborative; a national initiative of leading children’s hospitals committed to advancing the implementation of the Zero Suicide framework. This important work is made possible through the generous support of the Cardinal Health Foundation, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Association.
Organization Profile
Children’s Wisconsin is a statewide pediatric health system headquartered in Milwaukee, with hospitals in Milwaukee and Neenah, over 20 community clinics, and a Level I pediatric trauma center. Services include acute care, specialty clinics, behavioral health, and community-based care. In partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin provides pediatric training and research.
Implementation of Zero Suicide
In 2018, Children’s Wisconsin expanded suicide screening from the ED toward universal screening across its system. Findings from a Zero Suicide Organizational Study revealed care gaps, prompting deeper integration of evidence-based treatment, training, and follow-up care.
Key steps included:
- Strengthening suicide screening compliance system-wide.
- Implementing a text-based caring contacts program to support continuity.
- Training over 25 providers in Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) by 2025.
Partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for linked mortality data and psychological autopsies.
Key Outcomes
- Suicide screening adherence rose from 50.9% (Q4 2023) to 74.6% (Q3 2025).
- Caring contacts program: Average follow-up in 2.38 days, 10.5% ED return rate (vs. 13% typical), and no suicide deaths within six months among 300 patients.
- Mortality data review enabled identification of gaps in screening, assessment, and treatment.
Next Steps
Looking ahead, Children’s Wisconsin will continue training clinicians in evidence-based protocols such as CAMS and CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means), while strengthening safety planning and lethal means counseling documentation. The organization also plans to expand leadership representation to include individuals with lived experience of suicidality, ensuring that diverse perspectives inform system improvements. In addition, Children’s Wisconsin will develop more robust workflows to support continuity of care during transitions and after discharge from urgent mental health clinics and emergency departments.