How Craig Warren Creates a Culture of Healthy Accountability

“Twenty percent of kids today are struggling with anxiety, grief, or depression,” explained Craig Warren, CEO of Washburn Center for Children. That sobering statistic set the scene and underscored the importance and urgency of their mission. Craig shared his perspectives on goodness, good leadership, and healthy accountability at last week’s Good Leadership Breakfast.  

“Our work is not linear,” Craig shared as he described the culture required for therapists to thrive in their role with children and their families. He continued: “Accountability isn’t simply a set of rules, but a culture built on ‘compassion, clarity, focus, and outcomes’—guiding Washburn’s approach to the pressing needs in child mental health services.” 

Reflecting on his own journey—from a childhood shaped by faith, education, and service, through his years in the military—Craig summed up his leadership philosophy: “It’s about creating a space for people to thrive, even in difficult times, and to hold onto hope, not just for the people we serve, but for each other.” At Washburn, he’s building a culture that respects and empowers people to bring their whole selves to the table, sustaining a spirit of hope and resilience for both staff and the children they serve. 

Long-term success is difficult to envision: “I hope that someday, we won’t have this kind of demand for children’s mental health services,” he shared. So the secrets to building a high performing culture are built on building hope, finding joy, supporting caregivers one-on-one, and stimulating them collectively as professional colleagues – and most importantly, finding gratitude in very difficult jobs where the benefits of their work are often unseen.  

Craig’s Success Habits 

Craig’s leadership boils down to a few core concepts that keep Washburn’s team focused, especially in an environment filled with secondary trauma and emotional challenges. He explained these three success habits, that his team appreciates about his leadership:  

1. Laser-focused vision 

2. Require staff to ask clear questions 

3. Contemplative action – careful consideration of multiple dynamics within time constraints 

Together, these success habits shape a culture where people feel empowered to address tough issues openly—a space that encourages both challenging and supporting one another constructively. 

Join the Good Leadership Conference 

The Good Leadership Conference on November 22 will showcase insights from the Accountability Research Project, with a focus on embedding healthy accountability across diverse teams. Tables are filling quickly, but there’s still time to reserve a seat. To join, email Jill at jill@goodleadership.com.