Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Community-Based Provider Training Program
The Behavioral Health Community-Based Provider Training Program (MBH-CBPTP) is designed to build up the workforce of Alcohol or Other Drug Counselors, Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives and Peer Support Specialists by funding training and education to create a healthcare workforce pipeline to address community-based workforce shortages throughout the state.
Grant Funding
The Behavioral Health Community-Based Provider Training Program supports the development of the following community-based providers:
- Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselors
- Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives
- Peer Support Specialists
The state may pay training programs up to $10,000 per practitioner participating in this program. Funds may only be used for the following activities:
- Program tuition and required program fees for course curriculums necessary to achieve one of these professions
- Textbooks and supplies as required by the educational program curriculum
- Professional exam fees and certification or licensure costs
Payments must be made directly only to the training program on behalf of the practitioner. Funds will not be provided to individual awardees.
Service Obligation Requirements
Awardees will be required to fulfill a 3-year full-time service obligation in one or more of the following Medi-Cal safety net settings:
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
- Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC)
- Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
- Settings with the following payer mix:
- Hospitals with 40% or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population
- Rural hospitals with 30% or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population
- Other behavioral health settings with 40% or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population
Application Dates
Open Q1 2026
Resources
Full BH CONNECT Special Terms and Conditions (STCs) (HCAI portion on pages 21-30)
HCAI BH-CONNECT Webpage
DHCS BH-CONNECT Workforce Initiative Webpage
Learn more about BH-CONNECT
Subscribe
Join the Workforce Programs Update mailing list to receive program announcements.