#87 Ryan Eisenberg: Building a System of Care for Youth Mental Health at CHC

Ryan Eisenberg: unifying care so more kids thrive. As CEO of Children’s Health Council (CHC), Ryan outlines a human-centered system that helps kids, teens, and young adults with ADHD, learning differences, anxiety/depression, and autism. His north star is twofold: deliver excellent direct services and strengthen the systems around each student—families, teachers, districts, communities—so young people belong, take healthy risks, and build agency. Shaped by a brother with complex needs and early work in special education, he centers relationships as the precondition for learning.

Ryan maps CHC’s integrated model: Sand Hill School serves neurodiverse learners (dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism) with tailored academics, embedded clinicians, and robust arts for social-emotional growth. Esther B. Clark (EBC) Schools partner with public districts to support students with significant regulation challenges via small classes, therapy for every student, and family coaching—aiming to return students to their home schools in ~2 years. The Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services offers comprehensive assessments and measurement-based mental-health care, while the Schwab Learning Center builds executive-function skills for teens and young adults navigating college and early careers. A community-education arm and curated resource library round out the model.

A standout is ELLIS, CHC’s AI-powered assistant that turns classroom questions into cited, evidence-based, multi-week action plans, with guardrails and an escalation “shutdown” when risk is detected, directing educators to human professionals.

Ryan contrasts high expectations with harmful perfectionism, urges parents to start with a low-stakes consult if their gut says something’s off, and credits mentors for his shift from teacher to CEO. Looking ahead: expand access (more locations, better payment pathways), embrace hybrid care, deepen Bay Area presence, and scale ELLIS, including potential parent-facing versions.

About Ryan Eisenberg:

- www.chconline.org

- www.askellis.org

- www.pacificoaks.edu

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-eisenberg-023271a/

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00:00 Introduction to Children's Health Council and Ryan Eisenberg

01:21 Ryan's Journey: From Teacher to CEO

03:16 Building Ecosystems for Empowerment

04:38 The CHC Model: Schools, Clinics, and Community Support

08:28 Introducing AI in Education: The Ellis Project

10:32 Responsible Technology in Education

15:25 Overview of Schools and Clinical Services

19:41 Supporting Families: Accessing Resources and Care

24:19 Navigating Collective Challenges and Community Support

25:27 The Role of Parents in Shaping Future Generations

25:48 Balancing Expectations and Perfectionism in Parenting

27:51 Learning from Failure and Embracing the Journey

29:14 Mentorship and Personal Growth

30:58 Transitioning from Teacher to CEO: A Personal Journey

35:23 The Importance of Continuous Learning and Adaptation

37:13 The Role of Mentors in Unlocking Potential

38:46 Instilling Values and Encouragement in Children

41:55 Finding Contentment in Simplicity

43:06 Future Directions for CHC and Community Impact