Governor’s Briefs: California Highlights Biden’s Visit, Climate Investments and State Boosts Behavioral Health Workforce

Gov. Newsom Welcomes President Biden Back to California, Highlights New Investments in Climate Action and Clean Energy

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom joined President Biden and a California Climate Action Corps volunteer in Palo Alto June 19 in support of the president’s announcement of more than $600 million in federal grant funding for climate resilience projects across the country.

President Biden also announced that California will receive $67 million in federal funding to help build power lines and transmission infrastructure, supporting the state’s transition to 100% clean electricity by 2045.

California’s Climate Commitment, the $48 billion climate budget, includes $4.1 billion in climate resilience funding: 

$1.4 billion in investments over multiple years for nature-based solutions, 

$1.6 billion in investments over multiple years to promote community resilience,

$734 million in investments over multiple years for coastal resilience,

On June 1, the Coastal Conservancy awarded $78 million for climate resilience, public access, habitat restoration and wildfire resilience projects. 

$444 million over multiple years to address extreme heat.

June 16

California Awards $14.4 Million to Boost the State’s Behavioral Health Workforce

SACRAMENTO — California June 16 awarded $14.4 million in grants to grow the state’s behavioral health workforce by nearly 3,300 personnel through training and placement programs.

Awarded by the Department of Health Care Access and Information or HCAI under its Peer Personnel Training and Placement grant program, the grants – awarded to 16 organizations – will allow them to recruit, train and place nearly 3,300 peer personnel in 43 counties throughout California.

Peer personnel are individuals with lived experience as a mental or behavioral health services consumer, family member, and/or caregiver. Peer personnel duties include leading recovery groups, building community and relationships, sharing resources, and advocating for people in recovery.

The Peer Personnel Training and Placement Program, funded by the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative or CYBHI, seeks to increase the number of peer personnel specialists ages 18-25. The program prioritizes the recruitment of youth and students with lived experience in high schools, adult education programs, regional occupational programs, community colleges, and those already working and/or volunteering in a behavioral health program. HCAI funds student scholarships, loan repayment, and organizational grants to mentor and support a future workforce.

The CYBHI aims to transform California’s behavioral health system into an ecosystem where all children and youth from birth to age 25 have access to services for emerging and existing behavioral health needs, regardless of health payer.

See the list of Peer Personnel Training and Placement Program awardees on the HCAI website.