What You Should Know:
– Fort Health, a leader in integrated behavioral health, today announced that it has raised $5.5 million to expand mental health care into more pediatricians’ offices. The funding round was led by Twelve Below and Vanterra bringing the total amount raised to $16M.
– Since launching, Fort Health has expanded into NJ, NY and PA, and secured large commercial contracts with payers and provider groups to provide access to evidence-based youth mental health care services. The latest round of funding will enable the expansion into Texas and Illinois through a partnership with NovaWell.
Fort Health Expands Pediatric Mental Health Access through Integrated Care and Strategic Partnerships
Fort Health, a virtual pediatric mental health company, provides accessible, in-network behavioral health services to children and families by integrating primary and mental health care. Launched in collaboration with the Child Mind Institute, an independent non-profit focused on improving lives affected by mental health challenges, Fort Health operates in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, with planned expansions into additional states by year’s end.
Addressing the National Adolescent Mental Health Crisis
The U.S. is currently facing an acute mental health crisis among teenagers. According to a 2022 CDC report, the percentage of high school students experiencing “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” surged from 26% to 44% between 2009 and 2021. The need for accessible mental health care is particularly dire in states like Texas, which ranks lowest for mental health services, with the nation’s highest youth suicide rates and a 75% treatment gap for depressed youth. Illinois also reflects concerning trends, where 20% of youth are affected by mental health conditions, as reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Expanding Reach with Strategic Partnerships
To address these critical needs, Fort Health has partnered with NovaWell to extend evidence-based therapy, psychiatry, and parent coaching services into Texas and Illinois, collaborating directly with pediatric provider groups and hospitals. These services are fully covered by insurance, ensuring broader access to care.
Comprehensive and Collaborative Care Model
Once a pediatrician refers a patient to Fort Health, a provider is selected based on the family’s preferences. A thorough clinical evaluation follows, resulting in a tailored care plan. Throughout the care journey, Fort Health maintains open communication with the referring pediatrician, updating them on clinical progress and any medication adjustments. Additionally, Fort Health empowers parents by offering specialized training to better support their child’s mental health needs at home.
Investment and Confidence in Fort Health’s Model
A recent funding round led by Twelve Below and Vanterra raised Fort Health’s total funding to $16 million. Redesign Health, Blue Venture Fund, and True Wealth also contributed, underscoring investor confidence in Fort Health’s mission and innovative care approach. With this financial backing, Fort Health is poised to continue expanding its reach and improving access to mental health care for families across the U.S.
“Pediatricians are the most trusted relationship in family healthcare, yet they are overwhelmed by patients with mental health issues and very few have completed a child and adolescent psychiatry rotation or have the training to treat these conditions,” says Natalie Schneider, founding CEO of Fort Health. “We have built our model to ensure that the pediatrician is central to the care team. Importantly, integrating behavioral health with primary care not only streamlines the experience, but also makes sense from a cost perspective. According to Milliman, integrated behavioral healthcare can reduce total medical healthcare expenses per patient by 9% to 17%.”
