The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a historic, five year, $4.7 billion dollar investment by the State of California that takes a “whole child” approach to transform and reimagine the ways that we address the mental health and well-being of children and youth.

Launched in 2021, CYBHI is comprised of many workstreams that all aim to address aspects of the mental health delivery system for children and youth, including workforce development, infrastructure, best practices, public awareness, and sustainability.

CYBHI recognizes that schools are key players in supporting the mental well-being of children and youth, and that schools are the most likely setting for students to receive services.

The twenty workstreams of CYBHI are significant to school-based mental health and wellness programs in terms of building infrastructures, reducing silos, supporting one-time and ongoing funding, and best practices.

Additionally, several CYBHI initiatives have the potential to support the strengthening and expansion of School-Based Health and Wellness Centers.

The CYBHI is overseen by the California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS), with each workstream managed by one of more CalHSS department, including:

• Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
• Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)
• Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC)
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• Office of the California Surgeon General (CA-OSG)

CYBHI Workstreams

Statewide Multi-Payer Fee Schedule

Statewide Multi-Payer Fee Schedule for School-Linked Behavioral Health Services is a new funding mechanism to ensure sustainable reimbursement for specific services provided in school settings.

It mandates Medi-Cal and commercial plans to reimburse at set rates for services provided to their members at school-based or linked sites.

Certified Wellness Coach

The Certified Wellness Coach is a new profession aimed at helping increase California’s capacity to support the behavioral health and well-being of children and youth and support the development of a larger, more representative behavioral health workforce.

Through wellness promotion, screening, and crisis referral, Certified Wellness Coaches offer behavioral health support that is more inclusive and readily available to youth, bridging the crucial gap between need and accessibility.

Many school districts and some organizations received Employer Support Grants to support development of Wellness Coach programs in their schools. Scholarships have also been made available to prospective Certified Wellness Coaches to support their educational journey. More information can be found at the Certified Wellness Coach website.

Other Key Workstreams

Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP)

Incentive payments funding for Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs) to build infrastructure, partnerships, and capacity statewide for school behavioral health services. It is a three-year program that began January 1, 2022, and ended December 31, 2024, and has supported 147 interventions across the state.

School-Linked Partnership & Capacity Grants

Grants available to districts through all 58 County Offices of Education that support readiness to implement the Multi-Payer Fee Schedule. Funding can be used to increase behavioral health capacity through hiring, training, facilities expansion, and partnership building.

Evidence-Based & Community Defined Practices Grants

Five rounds of funding have been dispersed to schools and organizations to scale EBPs/CDEPs that improve youth behavioral health (BH) based on robust evidence for effectiveness, impact on racial equity, and sustainability.

Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platforms

Launched in 2024, BrightLife Kids (for parents, caregivers, and children up to age 12, and Soluna for teams and young adults – offers all California residents, regardless of insurance coverage, app-based behavioral health resources. These new e-platforms are intended to complement existing services offered by schools, counties, SBHCs, community organizations, and health plans.

Cal-MAP – Behavioral Health eConsult Services Program

Launched in 2024, the Cal-MAP connects pediatricians, primary care physicians, and other providers to behavioral health professionals to receive consultation and guidance when providing behavioral health care.

Safe Spaces

A free, online training designed to help educators and school staff recognize and respond to trauma and stress in children. Each module is about two hours and is filled with case examples, videos, strategies, and practices.

Mindfulness, Resilience & Well-Being Supports for Children, Youth, & Parents

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is distributed $65 million among California’s 58 County Office of Education (COEs) to promote local wellness, mindfulness, resilience, and well-being programs that support teachers and students in TK-12 schools.