Behavioral Health – BH CONNECT

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program

HCAI is offering the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program as part of the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Workforce Initiative. The goal of the Residency Training Program is to increase the availability of Psychiatrists, including Child and Addiction Psychiatrists that are trained and serve in safety net settings.

group of health care professionals with their arms crossed wearing stethoscopes

Grant Funding

The state will provide up to $250,000 to residency and fellowship programs per new training position annually. The funds cannot exceed costs of operating the slots. The following programs are eligible through this initiative:

Psychiatry Residency Programs
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Programs
Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Programs
Addiction Medicine Fellowship Programs

Safety Net Setting Requirements

Programs will train new residents and fellows in one or more of these 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 percent or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population
- Rural hospitals with 30 percent or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population
- Other behavioral health settings with 40 percent or higher Medicaid and/or uninsured population

Service Obligation Requirements

The Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program requires participating residents and fellows to take part in the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program with a four-year service obligation requirement after graduation. HCAI will provide further guidance on this process as this page is updated and resources are made available.

Learn About BH-Connect