In an era where digital mental health tools are rapidly expanding, there is growing concern about the gap between what is marketed and what is truly effective—especially when it comes to solutions for vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized children, youth, and families. This panel, led by clinical psychologists and researchers Dr. Aislin Mushquash and Dr. Leslie Roos, will explore how to move beyond the hype to ensure that digital innovations in youth and family mental health are grounded in robust, community-engaged, and peer-reviewed evidence. This session will examine how to build meaningful research collaborations with youth, families, and community partners to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of digital mental health supports. Drawing on real-world examples (e.g., Dr. Mushquash and the JoyPop app; Dr. Roos and the BEAM [Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health] program), panelists will discuss strategies for engaging diverse voices from the earliest stages of research design to ensure digital solutions are both relevant and evidence-based. Attention will be given to co-design methods, ethical considerations, and how to ensure that the outcomes measured truly reflect the needs and goals of the communities served. Panelists will also highlight the importance of building knowledge on critically evaluating claims of effectiveness, particularly in public sector settings such as schools, child welfare agencies, and community health organizations, where there is often pressure to adopt "innovative" tools to alleviate system pressures and service need. Participants will leave with practical ideas for how to critically appraise digital mental health tools, foster academic-community partnerships, and advocate for the use of interventions that are not only accessible but also empirically validated. Ultimately, this session calls for a collective commitment to ensure that digital mental health supports reaching children, youth, and families are informed by real data. By grounding innovation in academic and community collaboration, we can build systems of care that are equitable, effective, and responsive to those who need them most.