A Creative Way to Support Kids’ Emotional Well-Being

Over the past several years, the rates of depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health issues among today’s youth, including children as young as three, have been steadily increasing. And for parents trying to navigate these emotional waters, it can be a choppy means to an end. To help kids manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues, Allegheny Health Network, an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region, created Cai & Kate. This imaginative video series, available on YouTube and Instagram, focuses on the well-being of children ages three to six years old. Featuring Cai, a chameleon puppet whose color changes depending on his emotions, and Kate, Cai’s human friend who provides commentary on the various emotions portrayed in the show, the program aims to expand the ability of kids to identify and talk about emotions. Produced by Chill Project Productions, an initiative of the Allegheny Health Network Chill Project, Cai & Kate is offered through the organization’s Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Institute. In this episode of Beyond Profit, a podcast of the ANA Center for Brand Purpose, host Ken Beaulieu discusses the show at length with William Davies, founder and director of the AHN Chill Project, and Mike Baron, SVP and group creative director at the agency Mower.