Youth Peer-to-Peer Support Program
Announcements
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in concert with The Children's Partnership (TCP), awarded $8 million to eight California high schools to serve as pilot sites to conduct the Peer-to-Peer Youth Mental Health Program.
The program was designed in collaboration with youth to identify promising, evidence-based peer-to-peer interventions to improve youth mental health. Studies show that by proactively leveraging strong social support networks, peer-to-peer programs in schools can mitigate provider shortages, reduce mental health stigma, and even offer a workforce development pipeline for youth. The collaborative partnerships with the eight awarded high schools will help DHCS and TCP identify best practices for peer-to-peer programs that can be implemented statewide, serve as a model for national efforts, and contribute to advocacy for sustainable funding and infrastructure for youth-driven, culturally responsive peer support programs in California.
The following eight California high schools received CYBHI awards: El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito; Da Vinci RISE High School in El Segundo; Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley; Oakland Technical High School in Oakland; Serrano High School in Phelan; Sierra High School in San Bernardino; Mission Hills High School in San Marcos; and Antioch High School in Antioch.
Background
As part of California's 2022 Budget provided $10 million to fund grants to up to eight high schools to offer peer-to-peer programs. Peer support is an essential evidence-based strategy for supporting young people’s mental health. Greater investments in peer-to-peer programs would improve the opportunities for youth of color to connect and heal with members of their own communities and identities. The Department Health Care Services (DHCS) in partnership with The Children’s Partnership (TCP) will award $8 million in grants to up to eight high schools (grades 9-12) in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state to implement high school peer-to-peer pilot programs.
Questions
If you have questions regarding the Youth
Peer-to-Peer Support Program, please contact DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov.
