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) has created 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 is DHCS’ overarching
guidance for counties receiving primary prevention funding to use prevention
science, theory, and planning frameworks when making local programmatic
decisions that best meet the needs of the individuals, families, and communities they serve.
This can be achieved through a collective statewide alignment with the
following priorities:
- Priority 1: Remain
Grounded in Evidence-Based Primary Prevention Science
- Priority
2: Promote Resilience and Engagement for Children, Youth, Families,
and Communities
- Priority
3: Improve the Overall Health and Quality of Life for Individuals,
Families, and Communities
- Priority
4: Strengthen the SUBG Primary Prevention Workforce
SUPP
For more information, please email DHCSPrimaryPvServices@dhcs.ca.gov
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) serves 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 website launched in June 2025.
- The California Services to Science Academy (CSSA) generates 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 by building partnerships for positive and healthy youth development. DHCS 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 implemented with fidelity.
For more information about FNL programs or to request TTA, please visit the FNL webpage.
For questions regarding FNL, please email DHCSFNL@dhcs.ca.gov.
California Healthy Kids Survey
The 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.
CHKS results are available through interactive dashboards at https://calschls.org,
offering statewide, county, district, and school-level data on behavioral health, substance use, and mental well-being trends. Local Education Agencies and County Offices of Education can also request technical assistance (TA) from WestEd to support survey administration and effective use of CHKS data. TA services include virtual and in-person workshops, on-demand data interpretation sessions, and on-call support via helpline or email.
CHKS survey results are also used in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary prevention programs funded by the federal Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant. For TA services and information, call 562.799.5460 or email calschls@wested.org. 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 36: Community-Based Treatment Expansion
DHCS is implementing Proposition 36 to expand access to substance use treatment and recovery services statewide, providing one-time funding to counties for planning, capacity building, and treatment.
The initiative establishes a treatment-mandated pathway for eligible repeat drug possession cases under Health & Safety Code § 11395, prioritizing recovery over incarceration in coordination with local courts and partners.
For more information, please visit the
Proposition 36 webpage.
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 DHCS on the planning, implementation, and evaluation activities of DHCS community projects funded by the YEPEITA. For information on meetings or members, please visit the Prop 64 Advisory Group 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 2024 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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