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

Dyadic Services as a Medi-Cal Benefit 

Latest News: Launching the Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Center for Advancing Dyadic Care in Pediatrics (CADP) and the California Institute for Behavioral Health Services (CIBHS), will launch the Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program in fall 2026. This two-year, statewide investment will expand equitable access to dyadic care for Medi-Cal children and families. The program will accelerate the implementation of integrated behavioral health services delivered to young children and their caregivers during medical visits. It will also strengthen the clinical, operational, and financial infrastructure needed to sustain dyadic care models over the long term. This grant program reflects DHCS’ vision to make relationship-centered, family-focused behavioral health a routine part of pediatric primary care across California. Grounded in statewide equity priorities, the program will focus on providers serving high-need communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families, LGBTQIA+ populations, rural regions, lower income households, and children ages 0–5, to ensure funding reaches populations those most impacted by disparities in early childhood behavioral health access.

All grant materials, including the Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Strategy Document and the Request for Applications, will be posted on this webpage when available.

About Dyadic Services

The Department of Health Care 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.

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