August 11, 2025
Top News
DHCS Launches Behavioral Health Services Act County Portal
On August 6, DHCS launched the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Portal, a digital platform that enables counties to draft, revise, and submit their Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes (Integrated Plan). Counties must submit draft Integrated Plans to DHCS by March 31, 2026, and final Integrated Plans by June 30, 2026. This platform will help streamline county planning efforts under the BHSA and reflects DHCS' commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and innovation across California's behavioral health system.
The BHSA County Portal's launch follows the June 30 update to the digital
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual, which includes guidance for counties to complete their draft Integrated Plans. To support a smooth transition, DHCS will offer training, resources, and technical assistance to support counties as they navigate the portal and draft their first Integrated Plan. Along with the release of the new portal, DHCS will offer a series of user trainings and resources to aid counties in the adoption of the new portal. If you have any questions or require more information, please email
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking talented and motivated individuals to serve as:
- Assistant Deputy Director (ADD), Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs (LGA). The ADD assists the Deputy Director of LGA with leading DHCS' legislative activities, including formulating, refining, and enacting policy- and budget-related legislation. Additionally, the ADD assists with developing and evaluating annual budget trailer bill legislation proposals that impact the Department. Applications must be submitted by August 20.
- ADD, Fiscal. The ADD for Fiscal assists with leading DHCS' fiscal activities and plays a vital role in managing DHCS' fiscal operations. This new role will help strengthen financial integrity, accountability, and transparency. The ADD helps lead the development and implementation of estimating, budgeting, accounting, and reporting policies and processes for more than $200 billion annually in federal and state funds. Applications must be submitted by September 2.
- Chief, Quality and Health Equity Division (QHED). The Chief of QHED, within Quality and Population Health Management, leads DHCS' health care clinical quality and health equity initiatives, evaluations, assurance, and improvement efforts. The Chief of QHED is also responsible for developing and implementing policies and processes related to clinical quality and health equity improvement and assurance (compliance/monitoring) activities. Applications must be submitted by August 15.
- Senior Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC), Fiscal, Financing, and Privacy Branch. The Senior ACC, within the Office of Legal Services, oversees the development and application of legal advice and policy to support DHCS' fiscal, financial, and privacy-related matters. This Senior ACC also provides legal advice and direction related to financing, rate setting, and third-party collections for the state's Medi-Cal program. Applications must be submitted by August 15.
DHCS is also hiring for its accounting, behavioral health, dental, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on the
Calendar of Events. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and alternate formatting of meeting materials. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee Webinars
On August 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the sixth
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee (QEAC) public webinar, and on August 19, from 12 to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the seventh
Behavioral Health Transformation QEAC public webinar (advance registration required). During the meetings, committee members can collaborate and provide feedback on DHCS' work to measure and evaluate the quality and efficacy of behavioral health services and programs in California. Attendees will be able to provide direct input to DHCS using the Q&A feature. Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation
Stakeholder Engagement webpage for more information about the QEAC webinars and additional resources. Please send questions related to Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the QEAC webinars to
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
Behavioral Health Task Force Meeting
On August 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS)
Behavioral Health Task Force will hold its quarterly meeting (advance registration required for virtual attendance). The agenda includes a panel discussion on the theme "Transforming Behavioral Health – Housing is Health," featuring leading experts in medicine, housing policy, and county-level behavioral health services. The meeting will also include a discussion on the implementation of Proposition 1 and the BHSA, followed by updates and public comment. This meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Clifford L. Allenby building, 1215 O Street, Sacramento, in conference rooms 110A and 110B. For questions or comments, please email
BehavioralHealthTaskForce@chhs.ca.gov.
CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup Meeting
On August 14, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host the CalAIM and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Behavioral Health Workgroup
meeting (advance registration required). The meeting will provide updates on High Fidelity Wraparound services. Workgroup members are invited to provide feedback during the meeting, which is open to the public. Please see the
agenda for more details. For questions or comments, please email
bhcalaim@dhcs.ca.gov.
Medi-Cal Dental Statewide Stakeholder Meeting
On August 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the
Medi-Cal Dental Statewide Stakeholder meeting. DHCS will share updates and information about new and upcoming activities. This meeting also provides dental stakeholders with a forum to share input with the Medi-Cal Dental team that can help improve the delivery of oral health care services. The meeting information will be posted on the Medi-Cal Dental Statewide Stakeholder Meeting
webpage. Any additional materials will be posted on the webpage prior to the meeting or as soon as they become available. Please email your questions to
dental@dhcs.ca.gov.
Patient-Centered Approaches to Contraception in Perimenopause
On August 26, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the
Patient-Centered Approaches to Contraception in Perimenopause webinar (advanced registration required). This webinar for family planning providers will offer critical insights and practical knowledge to enhance your practice and support your patients through perimenopause and menopause. As a family planning provider, you are vital to supporting patients through these significant life stages. This session will equip you with the latest information on the pathophysiology, symptomatology, contraception options, and patient-centered management strategies for perimenopause and menopause. For those unable to attend the live webinar, a transcript and recording of the webinar, along with additional resources, will be available on the
Family PACT website at a later date.
CalHHS CARE Act Working Group Meeting
On August 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, CalHHS will hold its Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment (CARE) Act Working Group meeting. The meeting will feature a presentation and discussion about the recently released
2025 CARE Act Annual Report, which details the CARE Act's early progress in connecting Californians with serious mental illness to treatment, housing, and hope. There will also be a panel discussion on the Role of Peers in CARE, as well as updates on implementation and recent activities. Please see the
CARE Act Working Group website for more information.
Cal-MAP Equips Providers to Address Youth Mental Health
On September 4, from 12 to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS' ACEs Aware initiative will hold a
webinar about the California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal (
Cal-MAP). The webinar will provide an overview of Cal-MAP's services, including consultation on screening, diagnosis, and treatment from child psychiatrists, and resource and referral guidance from licensed social workers. Cal-MAP is a no-cost consultation program that supports primary care and school-based providers in delivering timely, high-quality mental health care to youth ages 0–25. Cal-MAP is part of the CalHOPE pediatric access initiative and is designed to expand access to behavioral health services, particularly in California's rural and underserved communities. Through Cal-MAP, providers who screen for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress can be connected with child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers for real-time support.
In Case You Missed It
DHCS Released CalAIM Concept Paper and Began Public Comment Period
On July 23, DHCS released the
Continuing the Transformation of Medi-Cal Concept Paper, which outlines DHCS' vision and goals for the five years, starting in 2027, after key federal waivers that authorize California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) expire in December 2026. The concept paper outlines recent progress, current priorities, and the Department's long-term vision to strengthen and sustain Medi-Cal as a person-centered, equity-driven system.
The 30-day public comment period will run from July 23 to August 22, with feedback accepted via email at 1115Waiver@dhcs.ca.gov.
DHCS Releases High-Fidelity Wraparound Concept Paper
On July 31, DHCS released the
High-Fidelity Wraparound Concept Paper for public comment. The paper describes the initial vision for Medi-Cal High-Fidelity Wraparound payment and monitoring policies and associated updated standards for service delivery in both Medi-Cal and the Behavioral Health Services Act, in alignment with national standards and state best practices. DHCS invites the public to comment on the concepts presented in the paper and provide responses to the specific questions for stakeholder input.
Comments may be submitted to BH-CONNECT@dhcs.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PDT on August 28.
New Funding Opportunity to Expand Doula Care Access in California
MOMS Orange County has been selected as the fiscal intermediary to distribute $382,500 in awards to community-based organizations, doula hubs, and doula organizations across California. These awards are intended to expand access to high-quality, respectful, and trauma-informed doula care for Medi-Cal populations. The funding will support between 10 and 14 awards, each ranging from $25,000 to $35,000, for such activities as doula recruitment, training, Medi-Cal billing assistance, and initiatives that introduce doulas to public health programs, health care providers, and community organizations focused on maternal health services.
Applications are due by August 22 at 12 p.m. PDT. Award announcements will be made on August 27.
California Launches Two New Behavioral Health Programs to Support the Medi-Cal Workforce
As part of California's Mental Health for All Initiative, the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) launched two new programs to strengthen the behavioral health workforce, particularly in Medi-Cal settings where access to care is most urgent. The Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program and Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program are the first two of five planned programs, representing a major step in expanding access to care that is responsive to the needs of California's diverse communities. Approved through a federal Section 1115 Medicaid waiver and implemented in partnership with DHCS, the BH-CONNECT Workforce Initiative supports training, recruitment, and retention of behavioral health professionals who serve Medi-Cal and uninsured Californians. The application cycles close on August 15.
