Mental health challenges are the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people [1] and COVID-19 only made matters worse. Since the pandemic began, rates of psychological distress among young people have increased, especially among those who were already vulnerable.[2] This includes youth with disabilities, racially and culturally minoritized youth, and LBGTQ+ youth.
What is the new behavioral health initiative?
It’s called the Children Youth and Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). A key component of CYBHI is to support partnerships between Medi-Cal managed care plans and schools to increase access for children receiving Medi-Cal—nearly 5.7 million in 2022 alone!
Where do Certified Wellness Coaches come in?
Early in 2024, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information launched the Certified Wellness Coach program as part of CYBHI. The department received $278 million to train and certify mental health support personnel as wellness coaches in schools and community-based organizations across California.
According to Sharmil Shah, assistant deputy director of the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, Certified Wellness Coaches are meant to be an additional, trusted adult on a school campus — whether it’s an elementary school, middle school, high school or a college campus. Coaches would offer preventive and early intervention services and are intended to support a child or even a 25-year-old before a severe behavioral health need arises.
What is the role of Certified Wellness Coaches and how are they trained?
Certified wellness coaches, under the supervision of licensed clinicians, are employed in educational settings from pre-K through post-secondary schools. They typically possess associate or bachelor’s degrees in areas like social work and human services and are trained in nonclinical behavioral health support. The coaches are tasked with providing preventive and early intervention services to students.
Is the program sustainable?
The sustainability of California’s Certified Wellness Coach program relies heavily on finite state funding from the CYBHI. According to Ms. Shah, efforts are underway to partner with the Department of Health Care Services and other state departments to make the services of wellness coaches billable through Medi-Cal and commercial insurance, aiming for sustainable financing beyond the initial funding period.
[1] Youth Mental Health. (2024). Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/youth-mental-health/index.html
[2] ibid
