Prevention and Youth Branch
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The Prevention and Youth Branch (PYB) within the Community Services Division, provides planning, oversight, and technical assistance and training of non-Medi-Cal primary prevention early intervention and youth behavioral health services. The PYB also administers several statewide programs with the primary goal of empowering individuals to lead healthy lives while preventing mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD).
General primary prevention inquiries may be submitted to DHCSPrimaryPvServices@dhcs.ca.gov
General youth behavioral health services inquiries may be submitted to DHCSYouthServices@dhcs.ca.gov
The Big 5 by 2025
Through a multi-program approach and the use of federal funding (American Rescue Plan Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act), DHCS is implementing five key projects coined "The Big 5 by 2025" (Big 5) to support and build state-level infrastructure for behavioral health prevention across California.
The goals of the Big 5 are to strengthen the state-level primary prevention planning and evaluation process, encourage widespread use of evidence based-practices and community-defined practices for behavioral health prevention, streamline data collection and reporting, and reimagine the statewide technical assistance and training platform.
The Big 5 consists of the following statewide behavioral health prevention projects:
- Substance Use Prevention Plan
Substance Use Prevention Evidence-based Resource
Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Program Prevention Set-Aside Application
Advance Behavioral Health Prevention California
Primary Prevention Data Collection System
For more information, please email
DHCSPrevention@dhcs.ca.gov.
Substance Use Prevention Plan
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is creating California's first Substance Use Prevention Plan (SUPP). The SUPP is specifically for counties and providers utilizing the Substance Use Block Grant (SUBG) primary prevention set-aside administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The State Epidemiological Workgroup (SEW) serves as the consult and review committee for the SUPP. The SUPP will:
- Identify DHCS’ commitments which respond to SAMHSA’s strategic plan.
- Introduce an equity-focused primary prevention paradigm that focuses on decreasing health disparities by addressing social drivers of health.
- Utilize SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework to provide federal and state guidance for SUBG Primary Prevention funded providers.
Substance Use Prevention Evidence-Based Resource
DHCS is leading two initiatives through a contract with the University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs (UCLA ISAP).
- The Substance Use Prevention Evidence-based Resource (SUPER) will serve as a centralized resource to assist California providers serving youth in identifying evidence-based practices (EBPs) and community-defined evidence practices (CDEPs) that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate and demonstrate effective prevention strategies and outcomes. The SUPER is scheduled to launch in 2025.
- The California Services to Science Academy (CSSA) will generate evidence from locally promising and innovative prevention practices being implemented across the state.
To support these efforts, DHCS selected a group of expert stakeholders in behavioral health to provide input and guidance on the development and implementation of these initiatives.
For more information, please contact the Strategic Prevention Planning Unit at DHCSPrevention@dhcs.ca.gov.
Advance Behavioral Health Prevention California (ABHPC)
The Advance Behavioral Health Prevention California (ABHPC) is the newly implemented training and technical assistance (TTA) program for behavioral health services in California. ABHPC provides TTA, at no cost to the requestor, using evidence-based strategies and best practices in primary prevention. It also employs an approach that centers the social drivers of health and applies a health equity lens. The ABHPC is administered through a contract with the Center for Applied Research Solutions.
For more information and to request TTA visit: ABHPC
Primary Prevention Data Collection System
DHCS requires SUBG primary prevention set-aside-funded counties to report population- and individual-based primary prevention services and efforts into a data collection system. As of 2023 the Prospectus Group became the new data collection system contractor administering the ECCO Data Collection System.
Counties – Please consult with your assigned DHCS primary prevention analyst for ECCO inquiries.
SUBG-funded Providers – Please consult with the county prevention coordinator for ECCO inquiries.
For more information regarding primary prevention data collection, please see the Primary Prevention Data Quality Standards.
State Epidemiological Workgroup
The SEW aims to enhance statewide analytical capacity by functioning as an expert data advisory group that recognizes the importance of regular statewide evaluations to monitor and track outcomes. The SEW coordinates efforts related to the following:
California Friday Night Live Program
The California Friday Night Live (FNL) Program aims to engage youth as active leaders and resources in their community and build partnerships for positive and healthy youth development. DHCS provides stipends to counties to support the widespread implementation of the FNL program. DHCS also contracts with the Tulare County Office of Education, California Friday Night Live Partnership (CFNLP) to provide no-cost Technical Assistance and Training (TTA) to providers ensuring program components are followed with fidelity.
The CFNLP has developed the following infographics for the Youth Development Survey, the Friday Night Live Mentoring (FNLM) program, and the CFNLP:
For questions regarding FNL, please email DHCSFNL@dhcs.ca.gov. To request technical assistance on the FNL program, please visit the FNL webpage.
California Healthy Kids Survey
CHKS is a collaborative project between DHCS, WestEd, and the California Department of Education (CDE) to administer a survey of Alcohol and Other Drug use among a representative statewide sample of 7th, 9th, and 11th graders. WestEd has published the results of the survey in the
School Climate and Student Engagement and Well-being Biennial Report. The Report includes data on the mental wellbeing and substance use trends among 7th, 9th, and 11th graders.
Project Cal-Well
Project Cal-Well is a collaborative 5-year SAMHSA grant between DHCS and CDE. Project Cal-Well will increase mental health awareness among students, parents, school and district staff, and communities; provide professional development that supports mental wellness to school and district personnel; and strengthen partnerships between county behavioral health and local education agencies. DHCS's role in this grant project is to provide training, education, and resources about youth behavioral health to local education agencies and support Student Mental Health Policy Workgroups. Please visit the Project Cal-Well webpage for more information about selected sub-grantees for this project.
Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment Account
On November 8, 2016, Proposition 64 (Prop 64) was passed by voters, allowing adults aged 21 years and older to possess and use marijuana for non-medical purposes. Prop 64 created two new taxes, the revenues of which are deposited into the California Cannabis Tax Fund. After other specified disbursements, the current law allocates 60 percent of the remaining fund to the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment Account (YEPEITA) to DHCS to implement programs for youth.
The Prop 64 Advisory Group was established in 2019 to advise the department on planning, implementation, and evaluation activities of DHCS community projects funded by the YEPEITA. For meeting information and members visit the Prop 64 webpage.
Elevate Youth California (EYC) is a statewide program addressing substance use disorder prevention by investing in the youth leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and 2S/LGBTQ+ youth ages 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. EYC is funded through Proposition 64 California Cannabis Tax Fund, Allocation 3, YEPEITA.
The current EYC 2023 Annual Report highlights program and partner successes. For more information, please visit the EYC website.
SAMHSA Grant Program Support
Letters of Support
As the Single State Agency for Mental Health and SUD, DHCS is responsible for providing letters of support and providing guidance regarding an applicant's compliance with The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) discretionary grant requirements, which may be included in some Federal Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). It is the responsibility of the applicant to read each FOA carefully and understand its unique requirements. For guidance on requesting a letter of support, complying with the Public Health System Impact Statement, and/or Executive Order 12372 requirements, please refer to
DHCS's guidance for Discretionary Grant Requirements document or email questions to
DHCS Letter of Support.
Substance Use Disorder Perinatal Services
The PYB provides leadership to SUD programs for pregnant and parenting women (perinatal) funded by the SUBG Perinatal Set-Aside. This includes the development of the Substance Use Disorder Perinatal Practice Guidelines (PPG), collaboration with counties including Women and Children’s Residential Treatment Program, continuous research on perinatal SUD services, and the delivery of technical assistance regarding perinatal SUD services.
Pregnant and Parenting Women
If you are a pregnant or parenting woman, or a family member of a pregnant or parenting woman who needs SUD treatment, the
Perinatal Directory can help you find an SUD office that is near you. The Perinatal Directory is organized by county, and it includes the names, numbers, and addresses of SUD treatment services.
Providers
Counties and Providers receiving Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) funding are required to follow the
Substance Use Disorder Perinatal Practice Guidelines. The PPG outlines the SUBG requirements for SUD services for pregnant and parenting women.
Women and Children's Residential Treatment Program
The Women and Children's Residential Treatment Program consists of a network of residential perinatal SUD treatment programs in Alameda, Los Angeles, Marin, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Joaquin Counties. These counties must pursue specific goals and outcomes in accordance with
Health and Safety Code §11757.6 for pregnant and parenting women in residential SUD treatment settings.
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