Under BH-CONNECT, DHCS is clarifying existing Medi-Cal coverage requirements for evidence-based practices for children, youth and families pursuant to the Early Periodic Screening Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, including for Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW).
Visit BH-CONNECT Resources for policy guidance related to BH-CONNECT EBPs.
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)
- MST is a family- and community-based treatment that uses therapy sessions to address emerging high-risk behaviors including criminogenic behavior, anti-social activities, substance use, and other behaviors that may lead to juvenile justice involvement or out-of-home placement.
- Through MST, caregivers learn skills to independently address difficulties in raising children and adolescents as well as skills to cope with other family, peer, and neighborhood problems.
- MST emphasizes cultural responsiveness and the centering of home and community settings, as well as partnership with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system.
Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
- FFT is a multisystemic intervention designed for at-risk youth who experience challenges with externalizing behaviors (e.g., physical aggression, oppositional behavior, substance use) that require the engagement of the youth or family members' support system.
- FFT focuses on reducing adolescent behavioral problems, conduct disorder, substance use and recidivism, and improving parenting behaviors.
- A critical component of FFT is involvement of the family, caregivers, foster family or other key home-based influences.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- PCT is a specialized behavior management intervention for children and their caregivers.
- Through PCIT, a therapist provides caregivers in-the-moment coaching via a wireless headset while they engage in therapeutic play with their child, helping caregivers apply the most effective strategies with their child.
- PCIT is focused on decreasing child behavior challenges (e.g., aggression, noncompliance, and tantrums), increasing positive parent behaviors (e.g., therapeutic play, effective prompts), and improving the caregiver-child relationship through structured interactions.
High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW)
- HFW is a team-based and family-centered evidence-based practice that includes an “anything necessary" approach to care for children and youth living with the most intensive mental health or behavioral challenges.
- HFW is regarded as an alternative to out-of-home placement for children with complex needs, by providing intensive services in the family's home and community.
- Beginning July 2026, DHCS will implement HFW both as a statewide bundled service under Medi-Cal and as a county requirement under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA).
- On July 31, 2025, the California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) released the High-Fidelity Wraparound Concept Paper. DHCS describes its initial vision for Medi-Cal HFW payment and monitoring policies and associated updated standards for service delivery in both Medi-Cal and the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), in alignment with national standards and state best practices. DHCS invites the public to comment on the concepts presented in this paper and provide responses to the specific questions for stakeholder input that are noted throughout. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. PT, August 28, 2025. Comments may be submitted to BH-CONNECT@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line “Comments on Proposed Medi-Cal HFW Service Requirements Aligned with National Practice Standards."
