Home Providers & Partners Dyadic Services as a Medi-Cal Benefit 

Dyadic Services as a Medi-Cal Benefit 

Announcements

Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program – Request for Applications 

On September 15, 2026, DHCS released the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program, a two-year statewide program under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The RFA outlines a grant opportunity designed to expand dyadic care, a Medi-Cal reimbursable benefit that delivers integrated behavioral health services to young children and their caregivers within pediatric primary care settings. The grant program supports eligible Medi-Cal organizations in building clinical, operational, and billing infrastructure to implement the Medi‑Cal dyadic services benefit. The RFA provides detailed information about program goals, eligibility criteria, funding tiers, application requirements, grant timelines, and expectations for participation in technical assistance and data reporting. The RFA will close on Oct 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. (PDT). Interested applicants are encouraged to attend DHCS’ upcoming informational webinar: 

Webinar Details

  • Date: September 23, 2026 
    Time: 12 – 1 p.m. (PDT) 
    Registration:  Register Here 
  • Who Should Attend:
    Medi‑Cal provider organizations, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health care providers, hospital‑affiliated health systems, community‑based pediatric providers, county partners, and stakeholders supporting children and family behavioral health.
  • Assistive Services:
    For individuals with disabilities, DHCS will provide free assistive services, including language and sign-language interpretation, real-time captioning, note takers, reading or writing assistance, and conversion of training or meeting materials into braille, large print, audio, or electronic format. To request alternative format or language services, please contact:

Department of Health Care Services
Office of Strategic Partnerships 
1501 Capitol Ave, MS 4650 
Sacramento, CA 95814  
CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov 

Please note that the range of assistive services available may be limited if requests are received less than ten working days prior to the webinar. 

For questions about the RFA and additional materials, please email scalingdyadic@cibhs.org.

Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program Resources

Scaling Dyadic Care Grantee Budget Template: DHCS 26-0005

Scaling Dyadic Care Request for Applications

Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Strategy Document

About Dyadic Services

DHCS added dyadic services as a benefit effective January 1, 2023. Dyadic services are available to Medi-Cal members in fee-for-service (FFS) and through managed care plans (MCPs).

Dyadic services are a family and caregiver focused model of care intended to address developmental and behavioral health conditions of children and includes services provided to parent(s)/caregiver(s) (known as a “dyad”). Dyadic services help improve access to preventive care for children and rates of immunization completion. They also address coordination of care, child social-emotional health and safety, developmentally appropriate parenting, and maternal mental health. Dyadic services include the following:

  • Behavioral health (DBH) visits
  • Access to community supports services
  • Psychoeducational services
  • Family training and counseling for child development

Children (Medi-Cal members under age 21) and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) are eligible for DBH visits when delivered according to the Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics periodicity schedule for behavioral/social/emotional screening assessment, and when medically necessary. Dyadic services are integrated physical and behavioral health screenings and services for children under 21 years old and their parent(s)/caregiver(s).

Dyadic services are available to non-Medi-Cal eligible parent(s)/caregiver(s) of children (Medi-Cal members under age 21) so long as the dyadic service is for the direct benefit of the child. Parent(s)/caregiver(s) can receive specific assessment, screening, counseling, and brief intervention services, including family training and counseling.

For Medi-Cal FFS members, questions regarding Medi-Cal’s dyadic services benefit should be directed to their treating health care provider.  Medi-Cal MCP members should talk to their treating health care provider or MCP to assist them in determining if dyadic services are appropriate. Members of Medi-Cal’s MCP include a point of contact for general information that can be found at Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory.

Resources