CalHOPE: HOPE LIVES HERE
The CalHOPE program delivers accessible, prevention-oriented, equity-driven behavioral health and crisis supports and resources for communities impacted by a national disaster and individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges whether it's in the community, at school, or at home. The CalHOPE program is funded by the 2022 Budget Act and is ran by the DHCS.
CalHOPE Mission
The CalHOPE program aims to build community resiliency and help people recover from disasters through free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services.
Supports include:
- Individual and Group Crisis Counseling and Support
- Individual and Public Education
- Community Networking and Support
- Connection to Resources
CalHOPE Values
- Help: Give support in a caring and inclusive manner.
- Outreach: Connect with people, communities, volunteers, and partner organizations.
- Possibilities: Provide opportunity to recover and improve.
- Empowerment: Strengthen communities with knowledge, tools, and resources.
What are the CalHOPE programs?
CalHOPE is committed to addressing the stress, anxiety, depression, or worry Californians feel from the daily challenges they face by offering the following programs:
BrightLife Kids and Soluna: Under the umbrella of the state's CalHOPE program, two behavioral health virtual services platforms were launched for children, youth, and families. BrightLife Kids for parents and caregivers, young children, and adolescents aged 0 to 12, and Soluna for teens and young adults aged 13 to 25. The web- and app-based platforms offer all of California residents, regardless of insurance coverage, free one on one support with a live coach, a library of multimedia resources, wellness exercises, and peer communities moderated by trained behavioral health professionals to ensure the appropriateness of content and the safety of all users. These new CalHOPE platforms will complement existing services offered by health plans, counties, and schools by providing additional care options and resources for parents and caregivers, children, youth, and young adults in California. BrightLife Kids is available for iPhone users in the App Store and online and an Android version is available in the Google Play Store. Soluna is available in the App Store and Google Play Store (for Android users), with select platform services including an online version.
California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal: The California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal (Cal-MAP) is a CalHOPE pediatric mental health care access program designed to increase timely access to mental health care for youth throughout California's communities, especially in the state's most underserved and rural areas.
CalHOPE Schools Initiative: The CalHOPE Schools Initiative provides mental health and wellness resources to schools across California at no cost. The CalHOPE School Initiative links powerful resources together to support youth, educators, and families with free access to: A Trusted Space: Redirecting Grief to Growth, Angst: Building Resilience, and Stories of Hope: SHORTS. CalHOPE Schools also offers the Courage Award to student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome significant mental health challenges. The CalHOPE Schools Initiative is currently planned to run through June 2025.
Red Line: DHCS, in partnership with the California Consortium for Urban Indians Health (CCUIH) operates the Red Line which provides free and confidential support via a toll-free phone at (888) 368-4090, text at (916) 252-5002, and chat, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, by culturally responsive staff that offers resources and trauma-informed care.
Connect: DHCS, in partnership with California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) serves California Counties and Cities by providing mental health supports and resources.
Warm Line: DHCS, in partnership with the Mental Health Association San Francisco, offers a peer-run Warm Line providing free, confidential emotional support to Californians via phone, text, or chat. Service is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM (closed on MHASF-observed holidays). Overnight coverage and the Spanish Warm Line are currently paused. Call (833) 317-HOPE (4673) for English support. During off-hours, a recorded resource menu is available. For immediate crisis support, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or dial 911 for emergencies.
Together for Wellness: DHCS, in partnership with UCLA, UC Davis, and Chorus offers online resources, practical tools, educational information, and personalized support. The website is available in Spanish, Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar, and eight other languages.
What types of crisis support does CalHOPE offer?
If you or someone you are caring for is in a crisis situation, please contact the following services:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 offers 24/7/365 access to free and confidential trained counselors to help people experiencing mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide, or substance use crisis. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers 24/7/365 access to free, confidential, and compassionate expert advocates, highly trained to provide crisis information, education, referral services in 200 languages to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Call (800) 799-SAFE (7233), text “START" to 88788, or chat.
CalHOPE Warm Line: The Warm Line offers free, confidential, peer-run emotional support to Californians via phone, text, or chat. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM (closed on MHASF-observed holidays). Overnight coverage and the Spanish Warm Line are paused. Call (833) 317-HOPE (4673) for English support. For off-hours, access a recorded resource menu or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) or dial 911 for emergencies.
Contact
If you have any questions, please email calhope@dhcs.ca.gov.
Resources
To learn more about the CalHOPE programs, visit www.calhope.org.