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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Children And Youth ​Behavioral Health Initiative

​Helping Kids, Teens, and Families Feel Better

The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a statewide effort to support the behavioral health of young people in California. CYBHI makes it easier for children, teens, and young adults to get help wherever they need it:
  • At home
  • At school
  • In their community
Each of the 20 CYBHI workstreams is run by a department within the state of California. Below are some of the free CYBHI programs run by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

What We Offer​

CYBHI Fee Schedule Program - Free Mental Health Support at Schools and School-Linked Sites

Youth mental health support at school made easy. It’s as easy as ABC.

​​The CYBHI Fee Schedule Program helps public schools, colleges, and school-linked sites get paid for offering mental health and substance use disorder services. School-linked sites are community-based providers identified by schools w​here students can get services. These services are free for students and include:

Therapy and counseling.
  • Screenings for mental health or substance use disorders.
  • Parent-child sessions.
  • Psychoeducation, including education about mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and treatment options
  • Care coordination and case management, including help connecting students to services and community resources
  • Support from Certified Wellness Coaches (CWC), who are trained professionals who help students manage stress and build healthy habits
Students under age 26 can get these services if they attend a public school or college in California and have:
  • Medi-Cal, California's free or low-cost health coverage.
  • Commercial health insurance, also called private insurance.
  • Disability insurance.​
Families don't pay anything, not even a co-pay or deductible, and there is no impact on insurance.

Schools may ask you to update your health insurance information and permission to bill your or your child's health plan.

Watch this short video series to learn more about the CYBHI Fee Schedule Program​:
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Learn more about the CYBHI Fee Schedule program
Email: DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov

School-Based Services

Along with the CYBHI Fee Schedule Program, we're helping schools and colleges offer mental health care on or near campus. We support this through several programs that make it easier for students to get help where they learn.
This includes:
  • Paying schools for the health services they provide.
  • Making sure students don't have to pay out of pocket.
  • Covering services for students under age 26 who have Medi-Cal or other health insurance.
Current programs that support this work include:
Learn more about school-based services
Email: DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov​

Virtual Behavioral Health Platforms

These free platforms give California youth and families access to online mental health support. Services include:
  • One-on-one coaching.
  • Help finding care (care navigation).
  • Peer support from people with lived experiences.
You don't need insurance or a referral to use these tools. They are available on the web or through an app.
  • BrightLife Kids – for parents, caregivers, and children ages 0–12.
  • Soluna – for teens and young adults ages 13–25.
Learn more about online mental health tools
Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov​

Cal-MAP – Behavioral Health Consultation, Education, and Resources For Primary Care Providers Serving Youth

Cal-MAP (California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal) helps pediatricians and other providers get advice from mental health experts. This helps kids get care faster, especially in rural or underserved areas.

DHCS and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) created this program to expand access to high-quality, culturally responsive mental health care for youth. It focuses on early support in primary care settings, where stigma is often lower.

Learn more about Cal-MAP
Email: CYBHICalMAP@dhcs.ca.gov​

CalHOPE – Behavioral Health Resources and Tools

CalHOPE offers free, safe, and confidential mental health support to people of all ages in California.

All Californians are entitled to behavioral health support through CalHOPE, including:
  • Confidential support from trained peers who understand your unique situation.
  • Help finding resources.
  • Support for emotional recovery.
  • Community outreach and education.
  • Online tools for stress management, peer connections, and more.
  • Specialized services for underserved communities, including:
    • Immigrants
    • Youth
    • Parents
    • Caregivers
    • Urban Indian and Tribal populations
Learn more on the CalHOPE website
Email: CalHOPE@dhcs.ca.gov​

Dyadic Services – Care for Parents and Young Children Together

Dyadic services involve a doctor or therapist seeing a parent and child together. These visits help strengthen the parent-child relationship and support mental health.

They are available to people with Medi-Cal.

The parent does not need to have Medi-Cal, as long as the child does and the service benefits the child.

Learn more about Dyadic Services or Dyadic Services as a Medi-Cal Benefit.
Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov​

Grants for Community Programs

DHCS awarded $381 million in grants to organizations across California.

These grants support programs that use proven methods to help people.
Some of these methods are:
Evidence-based practices (EBP) – approaches that have been tested through research and shown to work.
Community-defined evidence practices (CDEP) – approaches that are shaped by community experience and have been shown to help in real life.

Programs must:
  • Be backed by strong evidence.
  • Promote racial equity.
  • Be sustainable over time.
These grants focus on helping children and youth, especially those who are:
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
  • LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and other identities)
Learn more about EBP/CDEP grants
Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov​​

Certified Wellness Coaches

Starting in 2025, Certified Wellness Coaches (CWC) can offer some services through Medi-Cal.

CWCs are trained professionals who support your health and well-being. They are not doctors or nurses.

They provide non-clinical services, which means they help with health needs that don't involve medical treatment or diagnosis.

These services include:
  • Teaching you about general health and wellness
  • Doing basic health checks, like screenings
  • Helping you find and connect with care
  • Coaching you on mental health and healthy habits
  • Referring you to crisis support if needed
This new type of support is part of the CYBHI.

Learn more about the Certified Wellness Coach profession.
Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov

Positive Parenting: Thriving Kids Videos

DHCS partnered with the Child Mind Institute (CMI) to create videos that help parents support their children's mental health.

Learn more about Positive Parenting: Thriving Kids resources.
Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov​

Digital Tools for Mental Health

DHCS is working with the CMI to develop the Next-Generation Digital Therapeutics (NGDT) program, which will offer new digital tools to support the mental health of children and adolescents.

Email: CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov

Resources

Need Help or Have Questions?

Please email DHCS at CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.
Last modified date: 9/17/2025 2:54 PM