Brightline Recognizes CA, NY Lawmakers with Pediatric Mental Health Leadership Award

CA Assemblymember Corey Jackson and NY Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon honored for championing equity and access to pediatric mental health care

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brightline, the leading pediatric mental health solution supporting kids, teens, and their parents, recently recognized two state lawmakers with the inaugural Brightline Pediatric Mental Health Leadership Award.

California Assemblymember Corey Jackson and New York Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon received the award for their courageous public leadership, which has driven clinical innovation and championed access and equity in youth and family mental health.

Brightline, which serves more than 500,000 children and their families in New York and California, created the award to recognize public leaders committed to expanding access to high-quality, accessible, and affordable mental health care for children and their families, particularly for those in underserved communities.

Jackson was honored for championing equitable access to pediatric mental health care and elevating it as a public health priority across California. Simon, chair of the mental health committee in the New York State Assembly, was selected for her advocacy for early intervention and cultural competency in youth mental health.

“Our two award recipients are both fierce and tireless champions for children and families across their states, and their advocacy has led to more than half a million children and families receiving critical mental health support,” said Brightline CEO Kari O’Rourke.

“In California, Assemblymember Jackson was instrumental in expanding access to high-quality pediatric mental health services across the state through BrightLife Kids, particularly for those in historically underserved communities. He’s championed new care models, including public-private partnerships like BrightLife Kids, to reach more families across the state.”

Launched in 2024, BrightLife Kids is a free, statewide, online behavioral health platform designed specifically for families with children 0–12 in California. Developed as part of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, BrightLife Kids offers high- quality behavioral health coaching to kids and families across all of California’s 58 counties, regardless of insurance, referrals, or immigration status.

According to a 2025 impact report on the program, more than three-quarters (77%) of BrightLife Kids users were accessing behavioral health care for the first time, and 99% of families reported they were satisfied with their care. Ninety-three percent of children showed improvement through BrightLife Kids, while 95% of caregivers reported an increased ability to manage their child’s needs. Additionally, 84% of caregivers reported experiencing less strain in caring for children with emotional and behavioral concerns, and 33% of caregivers reported missing less work because of it.

“In New York, where Brightline just opened our fifth in-person clinic, Simon has been a fierce champion for New York’s children, including through her budget advocacy, which ensures children’s mental health remains a top priority, even in a challenging fiscal environment. Her decades-long commitment to expanding mental health care access has left an indelible mark on her community and across New York,” O’Rourke said.

About Brightline 


Brightline is an award-winning pediatric and family mental health practice that provides therapy, psychiatry, and psychological testing for kids and teens up to age 18. Since its founding in 2019, Brightline has helped hundreds of thousands of children, teens, and their families with flexible, evidence-based care. Brightline’s unique hybrid care model combines virtual care with a growing network of in-person clinics in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Its connected care teams treat the whole child, not just the presenting concern. In California, Brightline offers BrightLife Kids, a historic partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services that provides free online mental health support and coaching for all families with children 12 and younger, with 99% of parents reporting satisfaction with the program. Brightline is headquartered in San Mateo and backed by leading investors, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Northwell Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Google Ventures, KKR, and Oak HC/FT. For more information, visit brightline.com.