SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Dec. 7 announced $480.5 million in awards for 54 projects to improve California’s behavioral health infrastructure for children and youth. As part of Gov. Newsom’s master plan for kids’ mental health, this historic investment provides grant funding to construct new facilities and expand existing facilities that help children, youth, transition-age youth, and perinatal individuals with a mental health and/or substance use disorder
California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health
“We’re overhauling our mental health system to connect young Californians with the care and support they need,” said Gov. Newsom. “Too many Californians are struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. This funding will support critical mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities that have committed to serving the diverse range of children and youth covered by Medi-Cal.”
These projects will increase care, especially in the least restrictive, community-based settings, with community wellness/youth prevention centers, outpatient treatment for substance use disorders, school-linked health centers, and outpatient community mental health clinics. Projects include:
Additional information on this round of awardees is available on the BHCIP Data Dashboard.
In California, the rates of serious mental illness and substance use disorders are highest for individuals ages 18 to 25, and rates of children and youth experiencing behavioral health conditions, youth emergency department visits for mental health concerns, and youth suicides continue to rise. Research shows that half of all lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illnesses begin by age 14, three-fourths begin by age 24, and most substance use begins in adolescence, emphasizing the need to strengthen prevention and early identification and intervention services. Also, in California, 13% of children 3-17 years of age reported having at least one mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral health problem, and 8% of children have a serious emotional disturbance that limits participation in daily activity.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is releasing $2.1 billion through six grant rounds targeting various gaps in the state’s behavioral health facility infrastructure:
Details: Improving California’s Infrastructure www.infrastructure.buildingcalhhs.com
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