Talking Points
Partnership Overview
- Mightier Clinical Services PLLC and Molina Healthcare of Nevada have partnered to bring Mightier to children and families enrolled in the Molina Healthcare of Nevada Medicaid plan.
- Children between the ages of 4-17 who have Molina Healthcare of Nevada are eligible to enroll in the program.
- Molina families who sign up for Mightier will receive access to the Mightier program which includes:
- Access to the Mightier app
- A heart rate monitor (Bluetooth connected)
- A dedicated tablet for the use of the Mightier Program. This is an Android tablet that can only access the Mightier App (i.e. no internet browser, YouTube, etc.)
- Access to the Mightier Parent App, which includes CBT-inspired psychoeducational content and tracking of what their child is learning and practicing
- Access to the Mightier Parent Community, which is an online, moderated group for caregivers wishing to discuss both the successes and challenges of raising children with mental health needs as well as how to best use Mightier within their home
- Tools to support offline play and learning that bring CBT-informed activities into the home
- A one-time optional setup/ psychoeducational appointment via telehealth with licensed clinicians to get started
- Optional monthly appointments via telehealth with licensed clinicians to review progress and guide best practices while using the Mightier program
FAQs
What is Mightier?
Mightier was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to help children ages 4-17 learn how to regulate their emotions. Mightier is an app-based heart rate biofeedback video game designed to teach children emotional regulation skills through play.
How does Mightier work?
When playing Mightier, children wear a wireless, Bluetooth heart rate monitor that pairs with the Mightier app. As the child’s heart rate rises during play, the games get harder. Then, children use calming exercises to lower their heart rate and continue playing normally. Mightier helps to elevate the child’s awareness of their emotions and provides them with the skills to lower their heart rate during play. With practice, children begin to be able to more easily use these skills outside of the game and n in real-life situations that are difficult for them (i.e. arguments with siblings, anxiety related to school, physical fights with peers, etc.).
What types of support do families get when they enroll in Mightier?
When families enroll, they are paired with a licensed clinician who is there to help them throughout their time using the Mightier program. They are introduced to their clinician via email and given the opportunity to sign up for a call within the first few days of receiving their kit. This call is delivered via telehealth and the family’s clinician shares information about the program, guidance on how and when to use the program, provides support setting up the equipment, and answers any questions the family may have.
Families also have the opportunity to meet with their clinician monthly via telehealth to support their progress in the program. During the monthly calls, clinicians will review the child’s progress with the program, review data with the family, and suggest ways to support continued learning with the program.
Families can schedule all appointments with their clinician online or by emailing the team. The family will receive regular emails from their clinician to check in and support their progress.
What is emotional regulation?
Emotional regulation is the relationship between understanding emotions and reacting to them, the interplay between awareness and instincts. Emotional regulation is not a choice made in the moment, but an ability that develops over time. Mightier turns emotional regulation into a game, allowing children to see their heart rate and explore calming strategies through play. With practice, this turns into a natural, effortless ability to regulate emotions in real-life situations.
What age is Mightier designed for?
Mightier games are designed for children 4-17.. Even caregivers love to play! Emotional regulation skills are important for everyone to learn and practice. Some reading of instructions is required, so children who cannot read may need some assistance from a caregiver when first getting started.
Is Mightier evidenced-based?
Mightier is an evidence-based program rooted in research. Mightier was born out of research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School over ten years ago, after several randomized control trials showed fewer outbursts, less oppositional behaviors, and lower parental stress. Read more about Mightier’s research on the Mightier science page
Does a child need to be in therapy for Mightier to be effective?
Mightier works with or without therapy. 50% of the over 130,000 children who have used Mightier have a formal diagnosis and 50% of those children have not. At any point in a child’s care journey Mightier, and learning emotional regulation skills, can be effective. Without therapy, Mightier has shown measurable improvements in as early as 90 days.
If a family decides to combine Mightier with therapy, there have been studies that have shown faster clinical improvement for children as well as higher engagement in therapy. When used in conjunction with therapy, Mightier also provides a space to practice skills learned in therapy between sessions, making therapy more effective. Learn more on the Mightier science page
How often does a child need to play Mightier?
Based on Mightier’s clinical research and experience serving over 130,0000 families, it is recommended that children play Mightier for at least 45 minutes a week, with the best results when children play 15 minutes, 3 times a week.
There is concern regarding screen time in the family’s home. How can a family balance Mightier and screen time?
To use Mightier, children need to play using a tablet. Today, video games are an important piece of children’s recreational and social lives. At Mightier, the program allows children the opportunity to play while also learning emotional regulation skills.
The recommended Mightier play time is shorter than typical screen time. Mightier recommends that families play only 45 minutes a week (i.e. 3 times a week, for 15 -20 minutes at a time). These play sessions are short, allowing children to get the practice that is needed while also ensuring children and families have time to enjoy other activities that are important to them. It is not recommended that children play more than 3 hours a week of Mightier.
The tablet that a family receives when they enroll in Mightier only has Mightier available to them and they cannot access Youtube, the internet, or other games. This helps to keep kids focused and engaged when using the program.
Each family is also paired with a licensed clinician who is available to support them throughout the program. If a caregiver has questions about balancing screen time or their child’s usage they can email or join a telehealth call with their clinician to talk through and brainstorm ways to use the program more effectively.
Does a family need reliable Wifi at home to enroll in the Mightier program?
No, a family does not need reliable wifi at home to enroll in the program. When completing the intake form, families will inform the Mightier team if they have reliable wifi at home. If they do not, specific instructions regarding how to activate the device offline will be emailed to the caregiver.
What are the Mightier games like?
Mightier has a library of games that appeal to experienced and novice gamers alike. Take a look at the ever-evolving library of games to get a sense of the options available.
Mightier is a safe place for children to independently play and learn.
- Mightier’s games are non-violent and child-friendly.
- Mightier does not have any chat features that would allow children to talk with peers or adults.
- Mightier does not share private information or photos.
- Mightier games have a natural end point and children don’t tend to get absorbed without breaks.
Mightier has chosen games that have frequent natural endpoints. The games are also challenging in a different way than children are accustomed to. While playing, the program are asking players to practice lowering their heart rate about 1 to 2 times a minute, which takes a lot of focus. This repetition of the cool-down process while playing can take a lot of energy, so some players decide to end on their own after a short play session.
How do I help a family enroll in Mightier?
If you know a child that is eligible for the Mightier program, you can send the caregiver the one-pager which includes a QR code and link to the intake form. You can also send them directly here to enroll
How long will it take a family to get started?
Once a family completes the intake form, it will be reviewed by Mightier’s clinical team. If eligible, the family will receive an email within 2-3 business days regarding their enrollment and the Mightier kit will arrive within 2-5 days directly to the family’s home.