Sonar

Extending pediatric behavioral health beyond the visit

Akron Children’s added Sonar to its integrated behavioral health model, giving adolescents 24/7 access to trained human Wellbeing Coaches and a clear path to care when needed.

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Always within reachWhenever they need it
Led by trained coachesHuman judgment, every message
5 practicesA live, multi-site clinical rollout
89%Shared a meaningful personal disclosure
Seven-day return rate
Nearly 3xGrowth in proactive check-in response
Insights

Extending an integrated care model into the moments between visits

Akron Children’s had already built TABBICAT®, an integrated behavioral health model that brings triage, assessment, brief interventions, care coordination, and tracking into pediatric primary care.

But even strong clinical models have edges. Waiting for care. Navigating time between appointments. Support before a young person feels ready to enter formal care.

Sonar was introduced as a human support layer around those moments, giving young people an immediate connection while complementing the pathways Akron Children’s already had in place.

A human is always communicating with the user. Patients do not interact with AI.

Dr. Eva SzigethyLois C. Orr Chair of Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Akron Children’s
24/7Whenever they need
Model

From referral to immediate human support

Clinicians introduce Sonar as an optional support, young people activate it with a single-use code, and a trained Wellbeing Coach picks it up from there. No appointment, no formal intake.

(Step 1)
A need is identifiedA clinician identifies an adolescent who could benefit from additional support with everyday challenges.
(Step 2)
Sonar is introducedThe clinician offers Sonar as an optional complement to existing or planned care. Sonar is not therapy, diagnosis, or emergency care.
(Step 3)
The young person activatesA single-use access code connects the patient to Sonar.
(Step 4)
Human support beginsThe young person connects with a trained Wellbeing Coach, without a need for an appointment or formal intake.
Built for clinical practice

A referral pathway that’s simple to use

The program launched across five Akron Children’s pediatric practices, each with different teams, patient populations, and workflows.

More than half of eligible clinicians made a referral during the rollout, with participation reaching 100% at one practice and 75% at another.

Every participating practice generated referrals, demonstrating that the workflow operates across a live, multi-site clinical environment.

  1. The model kept the clinician’s role focused:
  2. (01)Identify an appropriate patient
  3. (02)Introduce Sonar as an optional support
  4. (03)Provide access through the existing referral workflow
  5. (04)Allow Sonar to manage coaching, engagement, and defined safety processes

Practice-level reporting also showed where additional outreach and workflow support could strengthen adoption over time

Early engagement

What young people did after activation

Activation was the first signal, not the strongest one. The clearer story is what happened once young people started.

Opened when it matteredNights, weekends, between visits
They kept coming backReturn visits week after week

Young people did more than activate

Nearly one-third of referred young people activated Sonar. Once they began using it, the stronger signal was what happened next.

Nearly nine in ten opened up

Eighty-nine percent shared a meaningful personal disclosure during at least one conversation.

Seven in ten returned within a week

The 71.4% seven-day return rate suggests that youth found enough value in the experience to come back.

Conversations continued over time

Activated youth participated in repeated coaching conversations rather than treating Sonar as a one-time interaction.

What young people talk about

Support grounded in what was happening that day

No appointment to book or scheduled session to wait for. A young person opens Sonar, sends a message, and starts a conversation with a Wellbeing Coach, a real human trained to support them.

They can talk through what’s happening, step away when they need to, and return later without starting over.

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01Relationships and belongingFriend conflict, exclusion, breakups, family tension, and wanting someone outside their usual circle to talk to.
02Emotional overwhelmFeeling nervous or unsure how to manage emotionally difficult situations.
03Practical next stepsSupport with appointments, schedules, schoolwork, and breaking an overwhelming problem into something manageable.
04Identity and everyday lifeSports, camp, hobbies, family time, and other interests that helped Coaches build trust and understand what mattered to each young person.
Human where it matters. Technology where it helps.Young people don’t chat with AI. Every response is written by a trained Wellbeing Coach. Technology works behind the scenes to help Coaches maintain context, recognize possible concerns, and follow consistent processes.

Human judgment remains central to every conversation and escalation decision.
Testimonials

Here’s what partners have to say about working with Sonar. Real programs, real outcomes.

We are excited to partner with Sonar

Because the platform combines trained wellbeing coaches with a structured, clinically informed oversight, quality assurance, and escalation model.

Dr. Eva SzigethyLois C. Orr Chair of Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Akron Children’s

Extend your care model
beyond the visit

Give young people an immediate human connection while strengthening engagement and continuity around the pathways you already provide.

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Initial rollout data reflect program activity from June 15 to July 31, 2026. Results are descriptive and do not establish clinical outcomes.