The Office of Communications (OC) is responsible for overall DHCS communications and outreach activities designed to engage the general public, media, intergovernmental organizations, and public advocacy groups, as well as a wide variety of health care, community, business, academic, legislative, and other groups interested in the Department’s agenda.

OC develops and executes communication strategies to support the goals and objectives of the Department and serves as the central channel for information to Department’s various stakeholders, the public, and the media.

News Releases

• Brightlife Kids and Soluna Provide Free Behavioral Health Support to 500,000 Californians – April 17, 2026
• California Stops Major Identity Theft and Hospice Fraud Scheme and Brings Criminal Charges to Hold Perpetrators Accountable – April 9, 2026
• California Cracks Down on Hospice Fraud in Los Angeles, Debunks Viral Claims – April 8, 2026
• California Releases First Impact Report on Groundbreaking Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative – April 2, 2026
• California, Homeboy Industries Break Ground on New Behavioral Health Campus Supporting Reentry and Recovery in Los Angeles – March 30, 2026
• California Breaks Ground on New Tribal Behavioral Health Campus in Pauma Valley – March 23, 2026
• Ahead of schedule: Governor Newsom’s Prop 1 is exceeding goals to expand capacity and treatment statewide, helping 5M+ Californians – March 11, 2026
• Governor Newsom Announces Major Transformation of Six Vacant Buildings in Los Angeles County Into Mental Health and Housing Communities – March 6, 2026
• Medi-Cal Dental Makes Preventive Dental Care Easier for Families – February 12, 2026
• California Releases Plan to Support Medi-Cal Members Through Federal Changes – January 29, 2026
• Medi-Cal Care Innovations Reach More Californians Than Ever – January 29, 2026
• In the four years since Governor Newsom’s new hospice provider ban took effect, California has revoked more than 280 licenses – January 27, 2026
• Statewide PATH CITED Investments Deliver Results Across California – January 27, 2026
• Joint Statement from California Health and Human Services Leaders on Vaccine Access and Availability – January 9, 2026
• Statement from the Department of Health Care Services on the Federal Use of Medi-Cal Data and Member Privacy – June 13, 2025 (Updated January 2, 2026)
• California Strengthens Accountability in Medi-Cal Quality Ratings – December 22, 2025
• Elevate Youth California: New Grants Strengthen Community-Based Prevention Across the State – December 19, 2025
• California Awards $145 Million to Expand Provider Capacity to Deliver CalAIM Services – November 18, 2025
• Innovative Funding Model Helps Schools Sustain Mental Health Services – November 6, 2025
• Medi-Cal Members and Health Leaders Join Forces in New Advisory Group – October 16, 2025
• California Expands Medi-Medi Plans to 29 New Counties as Medicare Open Enrollment Begins – October 15, 2025
• Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Continue to Grow – October 10, 2025
• California and San Joaquin County Expand Behavioral Health Services with New Campus – September 15, 2025
• California Invests $26 Million to Address Substance Use Disorder Treatment Needs and Save Lives – July 11, 2025
• Medi-Cal Reports Strong Growth in Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports – July 3, 2025
• California to Expand Behavioral Health Care in Oakland – June 6, 2025
• Medi-Cal Community Supports are Delivering on Their Promise: Meeting Member Needs and Reducing Costs – June 3, 2025
• California to Expand Behavioral Health Care in Los Angeles County – May 16, 2025
• Governor Newsom Announces Billions of Dollars for Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities & Services for Seriously Ill & Homeless Thanks to Prop 1 – May 12, 2025
• California to Expand Behavioral Health Care in Calaveras County – April 18, 2025
• California to Expand Behavioral Health Care in Los Angeles County – April 7, 2025
• DHCS Announces Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Awards – March 25, 2025
• California Applies to Join Groundbreaking Initiative to Expand Access to Lifesaving Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease – March 21, 2025
• California Expands Vital Behavioral Health Care Services in Napa County – March 18, 2025
• Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center to Expand in Los Angeles County – March 6, 2025
• Substance Use Disorder Care Capacity Expands in Los Angeles County – February 18, 2025
• New Sites Bring Vital Behavioral Health Care Services to Teens and Adults in Los Angeles County – February 14, 2025
• California Takes Action to Improve Maternal Health – February 4, 2025
• New Peer Respite Brings Vital Behavioral Health Services to Placer County – January 31, 2025
• California and Sierra Vista Child & Family Services Open New Community Wellness Family Resource Center in Stanislaus County – January 31, 2025
• California Awards $2.7 Million to Local Overdose Prevention Groups Across California – January 29, 2025
• California Awards More Than $65 Million to 91 Organizations for Opioid Treatment and Recovery – January 29, 2025
• California Secures Federal Approval of Flexibilities to Help Medi-Cal Members and Providers Affected by the Southern California Wildfires – January 28, 2025
• California Works to Expand Support for Medi-Cal Members Impacted by Southern California Wildfires – January 17, 2025
• California Selected for New Medi-Cal Initiative to Improve Maternal Health and Advance Birth Equity – January 1, 2025
• New Free, Statewide Mental Health Resources Now Available to Doctors to Better Support Their Youth Patients – December 27, 2024
• California Awards $65 Million to Community-Based and Tribal Organizations for Youth Substance Use Prevention – December 19, 2024
• California Holds Medi-Cal Plans Accountable for Ensuring Members Have Access to High Quality, Equitable Care – December 19, 2024
• California Awards $19.3 Million to Enhance Opioid Treatment – December 17, 2024
• California Consigue Fondos Federales Historicos Para Servicios Críticos De Salud Mental – December 20, 2024
• California Secures Unprecedented Federal Funding for Critical Behavioral Health Supports – December 16, 2024
• New Sites Opening to Bring Vital Behavioral Health Care Services to Teens and Adults – December 6, 2024
• New Altadena Facility Brings Vital Behavioral Health Care Services to Los Angeles County – November 8, 2024
• DHCS Kicks Off County Transformation of Behavioral Health Services in Proposition 1: Seeks Public Comment on New Digital Policy Manual – November 8, 2024
• California and Aspiranet Break Ground on New Behavioral Health Facility – October 31, 2024
• What They’re Saying: Medi-Cal Coverage of Traditional Healer and Natural Helper Services – October 17, 2024
• For the First Time, California to Provide Medi-Cal Services for People Returning Home After Incarceration – October 9, 2024
• California Announces Settlement Agreements with L.A. Care Health Plan – October 8, 2024
• California Launches Pilot Program in High Schools to Support Youth Mental Health – October 7, 2024
• California Y John Wesley County Hospital Inician La Construcción De Un Centro De Tratamiento Para Trastornos Por Uso De Sustancias En Skid Row – September 20, 2024
• California and John Wesley County Hospital Break Ground on Skid Row Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facility – September 19, 2024
• California Y Janus De Santa Cruz Inician La Construcción De Un Nuevo Centro Residencial Para El Tratamiento Del Trastorno Por Uso De Sustancias – September 18, 2024
• California and Janus of Santa Cruz Break Ground on New Substance Use Treatment Facility – September 18, 2024
• California Invests $56 Million to Expand Early Childhood Mental Health Services – September 13, 2024
• California Awards Nearly $147 Million to Strengthen Community Health Services – August 30, 2024
• State and Mendocino County Break Ground on New Psychiatric Health Facility – August 20, 2024
• Success of Medi-Cal Transformation Continues as Latest Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Data Report Shows Progress – August 2, 2024
• California Awards Counties Nearly $133 Million to Rapidly House People Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Illness – July 30, 2024
• California and Sierra Vista Child & Family Services Break Ground on Modesto Community Wellness and Youth Prevention Center – July 25, 2024
• State and Pathway Society Break Ground on Santa Clara County Substance Use Disorder Treatment Center – July 18, 2024
• California Announces New Funding to Strengthen the State’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure – July 17, 2024
• California Celebrates the Groundbreaking of Napa Valley Youth Wellness Campus – July 2, 2024
• California Celebrates Groundbreaking of Expanded Indio Behavioral Health Facility – July 1, 2024
• El Estado Revela los Impactos Positivos de la Campaña de Reducción del Estigma – June 28, 2024
• State Reveals Positive Impacts of Stigma Reduction Campaign – June 28, 2024
• California Celebra la Construcción de un Nuevo Centro para la Salud Mental en Watsonville– June 25, 2024
• California Celebrates the Groundbreaking of New Behavioral Health Center in Watsonville – June 24, 2024
• California Celebrates the Groundbreaking of Riverside Behavioral Health Wellness Village – June 13, 2024
• California Celebrates Groundbreaking for New Outpatient Behavioral Health Center in Modesto -June 11, 2024
• California Celebrates Groundbreaking for Community Wellness and Prevention Center in Oakland – June 7, 2024
• DHCS Celebrates Ribbon Cuttings for Crisis Care Centers – April 26, 2024
• California Invests Nearly $52 Million in Community-Based and Tribal Organizations for Youth Substance Use Prevention – April 10, 2024
• California Launches Medi-Cal Health Equity Roadmap Initiative – April 5, 2024
• California’s Medi-Cal Transformation Continues – April 4, 2024
• DHCS Kicks Off Mobile Dental Van Tour – April 4, 2024
• California Offering Free Fentanyl Test Strips Through the Naloxone Distribution Project – March 28, 2024
• Passage of Proposition 1 Paves Way for Further Behavioral Health Transformation in California – March 21, 2024
• California Invests $67 Million to Expand Mental Health Early Intervention Programs for Children, Youth, and Young Adults – March 8, 2024
• California Launches Free Video Series to Help Parents and Caregivers Address Parenting Challenges – March 6, 2024
• California Launches Free Video Series to Help Parents and Caregivers Address Parenting Challenges (Spanish) – March 6, 2024
• California Makes $10 Million Investment to Help People with Substance Use Disorders – February 22, 2024
• California Holds Medi-Cal Plans Accountable for Ensuring Members Have Access to High Quality, Equitable Care – February 14, 2024
• California Invests $70.5 Million in Nonprofits to Improve Equity in Behavioral Health Care – January 17, 2024
• California Launches Free Digital Behavioral Health Platforms for Children and Families – January 16, 2024
• Announcement: California to Launch Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform – January 12, 2024
• California’s Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax Receives Federal Approval – January 3, 2024

DHCS Past News Releases