Activity Funds
About Activity Funds
The Activity Funds initiative is a key component of the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) initiative.
Activity funds help eligible children and youth access activities and items that support their inclusion in the community and promote improved physical and behavioral health outcomes.
Activity Funds support access to activities and items beyond traditional therapies that may reduce the member’s need for a more intensive clinical intervention for a behavioral health condition.
Activity Funds can be used to cover some or all of the cost of eligible activities and items such as sports club fees and gym memberships; bicycles, scooters, roller skates and related safety equipment; music lessons, art lessons, and therapeutic summer camps. Items and services covered with Activity Funds directly align with assessed clinical needs.
Activity Funds are available to eligible Medi-Cal enrolled children and youth with a behavioral health condition or at high risk of a behavioral health condition who meet criteria for being currently or formerly involved in the child welfare system.
See Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 25-037 (or superseding guidance) for more information.
Licensed Mental Health Professional Trainings
Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs) play a critical role in successfully connecting eligible children and youth to Activity Funds. To support LMHPs, live trainings will take place in June. These trainings will review the Activity Funds benefit, walk through the LMHPs role and responsibilities, and include a live demonstration of the Activity Funds Portal. Dates and times for these trainings are posted on the PPL website (Public Partnerships LLC or PPL is DHCS’ fiscal intermediary for the Activity Funds Initiative). A recorded training will be available in July.
Implementation Updates
DHCS will begin distributing Activity Funds in Summer 2026. More information will be posted here when available.
The Activity Funds homepage, hosted by PPL, includes:
- Implementation updates
- Technical assistance materials
- Upcoming meetings and trainings
- Information specific to activity providers, LMHPs, and eligible children/youth and their caregivers.
Implementation Partners
DHCS is working with PPL, a fiscal intermediary, to ensure the roll out of the Activity Funds Initiative is simple, efficient, and aligned with DHCS policy and CMS requirements. PPL will be responsible for enrolling activity providers, managing an online portal fund disbursement system, and data reporting. PPL is working with Aurrera Health Group to provide comprehensive stakeholder engagement, technical assistance, reporting, and evaluation.
Resources
- BH-CONNECT 1115(a) Demonstration Special Terms and Conditions
- BHIN 25-037: BH-CONNECT Activity Funds Initiative (currently under revision)
- PPL Activity Funds Webpage
Contact Information
- For questions regarding Activity Funds policy, please reach out to BH-CONNECT@dhcs.ca.gov.
- For questions regarding accessing Activity Funds, participating as an Activity Fund provider, or to request technical assistance, reach out to PPL at caactivityfunds-cs@pplfirst.com.