April 20, 2026

​Top News

BrightLife Kids and Soluna Impact Report

On April 17, DHCS released the 2025 BrightLife Kids and Soluna Impact Report, featuring video testimonials and key data on the platforms' growth and impact. Since launching in January 2024, the platforms have reached more than 500,000 users across all 58 counties, delivering more than 112,000 coaching sessions. Early data show the platforms are advancing equity, with most users coming from communities with the greatest social and health inequities. Participant satisfaction remains high at 98 percent, and for most users, this is their first experience with professional mental health support—77 percent of BrightLife Kids users and 50 percent of Soluna users. The report also includes preliminary findings from a Northwestern University study showing that users sustained improvement in mental health over three months. On May 5, DHCS will hold a webinar, Early Support, Big Impact on Mental Health: BrightLife Kids and Soluna in Action, hosted by Darrell Steinberg. Register for the webinar. For questions, please email CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.

Program Updates

Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Performance and Health Equity Measures: Public Comment Period

On April 20, DHCS opened the public comment period for proposed performance and health equity measures for county behavioral health and managed care plans (MCP). Developed with input from the public and experts, including the Quality and Equity Advisory Committee, the performance and health equity measures will replace the initial set of broad, population-level indicators. They will supplement the performance measures released for public comment in December 2025 and integrated into the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual earlier this month. Counties and MCPs will use these measures, which provide detailed data tied to statewide goals, like reducing homelessness, institutionalization, and justice involvement, to tailor interventions, monitor outcomes, and ensure accountability, leading to smarter planning, greater transparency, and more equitable results. These measures are a key component of California's Mental Health for All initiative, which aims to improve outcomes for Californians most impacted by behavioral health challenges, including youth, people experiencing homelessness, and communities of color, by promoting data-driven planning, targeted service delivery, and accountability. To submit comments, email BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line, “Feedback on Performance and Health Equity Measures" by May 8 at 4 p.m. PDT.

CA Bridge Connect Pilot Helps Expand Access to Medications for Addiction Treatment

On April 14, DHCS launched CA Bridge Connect, a new call and text-based hotline that provides immediate, same-day access to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT), in El Dorado County. This is the pilot county, to be followed by Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties in May. Services will expand to additional counties in 2026 based on community engagement readiness and the presence of robust emergency department (ED) MAT programs. The service links individuals and families to behavioral health navigators who offer confidential support and real-time referrals to EDs, clinics, community providers, and telehealth services. This effort is part of California's work to expand access to timely, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment.

California Services to Science Academy Cohort 2.0 

On April 17, DHCS issued a Request for Applications for $820,000 to support participants in the California Services to Science Academy (CSSA) Cohort 2.0. Nonprofit youth-serving community-based and Tribal organizations and counties directly implementing Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Block Grant (SUBG)-funded prevention programs can apply for up to $102,500 to participate in Cohort 2.0. The 15-month technical support grant aims to help substance use disorder prevention providers produce evidence for local prevention efforts and broaden culturally and linguistically relevant interventions statewide. Funding comes from SUBG and Proposition 64. Applicants must be a SUBG or Elevate Youth California primary prevention provider. Online applications will be accepted through May 29, 2026.

Join Our Team

DHCS is hiring for its Health Care Financing, Quality and Population Health Management, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on its Calendar of Events. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and meeting materials in alternate formatting. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.

Smile, California Mobile Dental Van Events

On April 21 and 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, mobile dental van events will be held in San Benito County to provide free dental services, including x-rays, cleanings, and sealants, to community members. The van will be located at 351 Tres Pinos Road, Suite 100-A, in Hollister. Families may call 1-888-585-3368 to schedule an appointment, pre-register, and complete the consent forms ahead of time, and they may visit SmileCalifornia.org for more details. Smile, California is DHCS' Medi-Cal Dental education and outreach campaign designed to help more than 14 million members access and use their dental benefits, including free check-ups and treatments.

DHCS CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup

On April 22, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Workgroup meeting (advance registration required). The workgroup is a stakeholder collaboration hub for CalAIM MLTSS and integrated care for dual eligible members. It allows stakeholders to provide feedback and share information about policy, operations, and strategy related to Medi-Cal and Medicare. The meeting agenda includes updates on H.R. 1 and impacts to dual eligible members, the 2026 Medi-Medi Plan expansion, Exclusively Aligned Enrollment (EAE) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) Default Enrollment Pilot, D-SNP Dashboard, Medicare enrollment data for dual eligible members, 2025 D-SNP quality data, and proposed BridgeCare pilots to help older adults stay safely at home with targeted supports. More information, background materials, transcripts, and video recordings of previous workgroup meetings are posted on the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup webpage. For questions or comments, please email DHCS at info@calduals.org.

Expanding Access to Care for Justice-Involved Youth

On May 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a webinar focusing on how the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative are reducing barriers to care for youth with justice involvement. DHCS will provide an overview of these initiatives, new benefits for services delivered by peer support specialists, community health workers, and certified wellness coaches, and resources available to improve care and access for individuals reentering communities. Kindful Restoration, a community provider, will also share about the work they're doing in the Inland Empire and how these services are benefiting youth involved with the justice system.

Coverage Ambassador Webinar Series 

​On May 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Coverage Ambassador webinar to provide an overview of the Birthing Care Pathway (advance registration required). Spanish translation and live captions will be available. Coverage Ambassadors should also check their email to participate in DHCS' Coverage Ambassador Annual Survey, which is open until April 30. Coverage Ambassadors are trusted messengers who help raise awareness about Medi-Cal benefits, enrollment opportunities, and new initiatives aimed at building a healthier California for all. Visit the Coverage Ambassador website for more information, including how to subscribe to receive regular updates, newsletters, and webinar reminders.