The National Academies' Forum for Children's Well-Being convened a leadership summit to examine both the promise and the challenges of these tools. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief synthesizes perspectives from leaders across technology, health care, education, policy, and youth communities, highlighting how digital interventions can support prevention, extend care, and strengthen connections between young people, families, and providers. Discussions emphasized the importance of designing with youth, building trust, and aligning digital innovations with real-world systems of care.
Speakers explored emerging models - such as self-guided tools, blended care, and virtual platforms - while underscoring persistent challenges, including gaps in youth-specific evidence, engagement and retention, fragmented reimbursement structures, and barriers to scaling across systems. Participants highlighted the need for shared evaluation frameworks, sustainable funding approaches, and cross-sector collaboration to move from pilot efforts to broad implementation. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief highlights key themes, insights, and opportunities to advance effective, equitable digital mental health solutions for children and adolescents.