Behavioral Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
More Good Days Together: Celebrating Behavioral Health Workforce Progress This May
We have a lot to celebrate this year as we highlight the exciting work underway across HCAI’s health workforce programs. In honor of Mental Health America’s theme for 2026—More Good Days Together—throughout May, we’re featuring four of our key behavioral health initiatives.
Certified Wellness Coach Program: 4,300 Certified wellness coaches and Counting
Now celebrating its two‑year anniversary, the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) profession now has over 4,300 people certified statewide, marking an incredible milestone for California’s youth and community wellness efforts. With this new profession emerging and growing rapidly, children and young people now have additional, trained support in schools, community centers, youth hubs, and other settings where early help makes all the difference. Visit Certified Wellness Coach. See some videos from the celebration event in February.
- Watch the sizzle reel from the opening of the event
- See what Coaches are saying about the profession
- What some employers are saying
- Hear from youth about their experience with CWCs
- View the full recording of the celebration event
BH‑CONNECT Workforce Initiative: Four Programs Successfully Launched
The BH‑CONNECT Workforce Initiative, in coordination with California’s larger Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, is expanding opportunities to grow and support the behavioral health workforce. Four of the Workforce Initiative’s five programs are now underway. These programs offer loan repayment, scholarships, and training support, along with targeted recruitment of qualified behavioral health professionals. Together, these efforts help build a stronger, more diverse, and more stable workforce to better support Medi‑Cal members and uninsured Californians living with significant mental health and substance use challenges.
Train New Trainers – Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship
The Train New Trainers (TNT) program, offered in partnership with UC Irvine, equips primary care clinicians with advanced skills to assess and treat behavioral health conditions in primary care settings. TNT fellows also learn how to train other providers—multiplying their impact and helping more Californians receive care from trusted teams close to home. Visit Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship.
PC‑TEAM – Addiction Medicine Training for Primary Care Providers
Also, in partnership with UC Irvine, the Primary Care – Training and Education in Addiction Medicine (PC‑TEAM) fellowship strengthens the ability of primary care providers to identify, treat, and manage substance use disorders. This year‑long training helps clinicians build confidence in supporting patients with complex needs, ultimately improving continuity of care across the health system. Visit Primary Care – Training and Education in Addiction Medicine (PC‑TEAM).
Looking Ahead
These programs represent some of the great work HCAI is doing to build, support, and sustain a diverse, culturally responsive behavioral health workforce. In addition to this ongoing work, HCAI is currently developing the 2026–2030 Workforce Education and Training (WET) Plan under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) through a robust and collaborative design process. This effort includes ongoing engagement with stakeholders, implementation partners, and subject matter experts across the behavioral health system to inform workforce priorities and investment strategies. Input gathered through these engagements is helping to shape a comprehensive plan that reflects statewide needs and supports a strong, sustainable behavioral health workforce.
A draft of the WET Plan will be released for public comment, with the public comment period expected to open at the end of May 2026. We encourage stakeholders and members of the public to review the draft and provide feedback to help refine and strengthen the final plan. Learn more about the WET Plan as it evolves.
As we acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month, we also celebrate the partners, practitioners, educators, and community organizations who are helping Californians experience more good days—together.
At HCAI Health Workforce Development, we champion behavioral health programs that help California’s health workforce grow and learn.
How is mental health different from behavioral health?
Mental health is specific to our emotional, psychological, and cognitive well-being and includes mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, as a few examples. Mental health focuses on the mind and its internal processes.
Behavioral health includes mental health and how specific behaviors affect our overall well-being. So, looking at our habits, lifestyles, and choices. Some behavioral health issues are substance use disorder, eating disorders, and self-harm.
Explore behavioral health initiatives and funding opportunities for organizations, students, and professionals
Initiatives
Loan Repayment Opportunities
Organizational Grants and Education Capacity Expansion
Resources
Contact us
Email: BHprograms@hcai.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 326-3700
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