September 29, 2025
Program Updates
Comprehensive Intrauterine Device (IUD) and Contraceptive Implant Placement Training
On October 15-17, DHCS' Office of Family Planning will host the Comprehensive IUD & Contraceptive Implant Placement Training series. Participants may choose between IUD and Implant Placement training on October 15-16, from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. (
advanced registration required), with both days covering the same content. This training is designed for both new and experienced providers who want to build or refine their skills in IUD placement and removal. The agenda covers patient counseling and consent, method selection, instrument use, and step-by-step instruction for all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved IUDs. Participants will receive hands-on practice with pelvic models and computer simulators under the guidance of family planning experts. Advanced topics include managing side effects, pain control, troubleshooting difficult placements, and creating clinic flow for same-day IUD services.
Alternatively, participants may select the Implant-Only Placement on October 17, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (
advanced registration required). Participants will receive hands-on training for NEXPLANON® placement and removal procedures as well as implant localization techniques. For more IUD resources, visit
IUD & Implant Resources.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking talented and motivated individuals to serve as:
- Assistant Deputy Director (ADD), Audits and Investigations (A&I). The ADD assists with leading the planning, implementation, coordination, evaluation, and management of DHCS' audit and investigation activities. The ADD also oversees administrative operations within A&I, ensuring that administrative functions, workflows, and resource management activities are carried out effectively and efficiently. The ADD builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders. Applications must be submitted by September 29.
- Chief, CA-MMIS Operations Division. The Chief leads the administration, oversight, and monitoring of DHCS' Fiscal Intermediary (FI) Business Operations and FI-Maintenance and Operations (M&O) contracts for the Medi-Cal program. In this role, the Chief also provides oversight of the FI-M&O vendor and related systems used to assist with the processing of approximately $21 billion annually in Medi-Cal claim payments. Applications must be submitted by October 16.
DHCS is also hiring for its Integrated Systems of Care, Contracts, Benefits, 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.
DHCS Partnership with CalABLE: Webinar
On October 1, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will participate in a
webinar hosted by
California Achieving a Better Life Experience (CalABLE). This session, Understanding CalABLE and Medi-Cal: Save Without Sacrifice, is designed to help individuals with disabilities and their families learn more about CalABLE and Medi-Cal. The webinar will cover how CalABLE and Medi-Cal work together to help families save and invest money without losing access to health care and other essential public benefits. Attendees will include CalABLE account holders, people with disabilities and their families, state employees, and service providers. The webinar will have American Sign Language and Spanish interpreters and closed captions, and will conclude with a live Q&A session. If you have any questions, please email
calable@treasurer.ca.gov.
Addressing Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence: Webinar
On October 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS Medical Consultant Dr. Ana Coutinho will be a featured speaker during a
webinar on Addressing Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence Through Collective Action, Compassionate Care, and Transformative Systems Change. The webinar is being hosted by the Mid-Costal California Perinatal Outreach Program, a program of the California Maternity Quality Care Collaborative. The webinar will cover current Medi-Cal policies for intimate partner violence (IPV) screening and referrals, and highlight opportunities for clinics and hospitals to leverage Medi-Cal benefits for members affected by IPV.
Perinatal IPV is a significant, yet preventable, public health problem that affects millions of women, regardless of background or life circumstances. Frontline health care teams play a key role in IPV response. With the right tools and training, they can offer safe, compassionate care, building trust and preventing re-traumatization while making real-time impact. This webinar aims to equip providers, birth workers, and public health professionals with evidence-based and trauma-informed tools to identify, support, and refer patients experiencing IPV during pregnancy and postpartum. Free continuing education credits are available for physicians, nurses, and social workers. Please see the
Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education website for more information.
Behavioral Health Transformation Community Planning Process: Webinar
On October 16, from 2 to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a
public informational webinar on engaging in the
Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Community Planning Process, which is the local stakeholder and partner engagement required for each county's Integrated Plan under the BHSA. During the session, participants will learn how to become involved in the Community Planning Process, how DHCS evaluates meaningful stakeholder engagement in the Integrated Plan, and about resources available to help foster your engagement efforts. Individuals must
register to participate virtually. Visit the
Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information and additional resources.
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee: Webinar
On October 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the eighth
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee (QEAC) public webinar (advance registration required). During the meeting, committee members will be able to collaborate and provide feedback on DHCS' work to measure and evaluate the quality and efficacy of behavioral health services and programs in California. Attendees can 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 any questions related to Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the QEAC webinars to
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
ACES Aware Learning Center Webinar
On October 23, from 12 to 1 p.m. PDT., DHCS' ACEs Aware initiative will hold a
webinar, California Providers: Support Youth Behavioral Health with These Free Digital Tools (advance registration required). As part of the Implementation with Intention series, the ACES Aware Learning Center will feature the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platforms developed through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), which include
Mirror,
Soluna, and
BrightLife Kids. The presentations will include insights on how these platforms can be integrated into care pathways, enhance engagement with young populations, and extend the reach of behavioral health services across diverse communities.
Strengthening Connections with Children and Youth Best Practices: Webinar
On October 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host a public webinar,
Strengthening Connections with Children and Youth Providers (advance registration required). The webinar is part of a series of Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Collaborative Planning and Implementation (CPI) webinars designed to highlight best practices for implementing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports, increase providers' successful participation in California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), and improve collaboration with Medi-Cal health plans, state and local government agencies, and others to build and deliver quality benefits and services to Medi-Cal members.
The webinar will demonstrate how First 5 programs across California are working with ECM and Community Supports services and providers, and explain how schools and school districts help connect children and families with local organizations, youth programs, and health plans. All webinar recordings and best practices resources will be made available at
ca-path.com/collaborative under the “Best Practices and Resources" section. For questions, please email
collaborative@ca-path.com.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On October 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the hybrid
SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required for online and in-person participation) at 1700 K Street (first-floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input and feedback on efforts to provide equitable access to quality health care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input on behavioral health initiatives and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. The agenda and other meeting materials will be
posted as the meeting date approaches. For more information, please email
SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or
BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It
CalHHS Launched Webinar Series on Federal Policy Changes and California's Response
The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) launched a new webinar series focused on recent federal policy changes in health and human services and how California is responding to ensure continued access to care. The first webinar in the series addressed vaccine access and guidance, a timely topic as the state enters respiratory virus season. Under updated California law, health plans and insurance companies regulated by the state, including Medi-Cal, are required to continue covering routine immunizations recommended by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This includes vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Californians are encouraged to review
CDPH's vaccine recommendations and check with their health plan or insurer if they have questions about coverage. To schedule a vaccine appointment, individuals can contact their health care provider, visit a local pharmacy, or go to
MyTurn.ca.gov.
The webinar featured insights from CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan, and Department of Managed Health Care Director Mary Watanabe. Topics covered included public health updates, health plan coverage requirements, and Medi-Cal vaccine coverage. A full recording of the webinar and presentation slides are available for those who were unable to attend.
