Initiatives

Certified Wellness Coach

Scholarship Application Cycle: Coming Soon!

Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle opening January 2, 2025.

New Pathway Requirements!

HCAI is updating the requirements to become a Certified Wellness Coach (CWC), expanding the number of eligible degree programs in the education and workforce pathways, and increasing field experience requirements in the workforce pathway.

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Wellness Coach Scholarship Program (WCSP)

The Wellness Coach Scholarship Program’s goal is to educate and train students to serve as Certified Wellness Coaches (CWC) in California. WCSP provides scholarships to students in associate or bachelor’s degree programs that qualify them for Wellness Coach Certification through the education pathway in exchange for a 12-month service obligation providing CWC services in California. Eligible applicants may receive up to $35,000. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of CWCs providing direct care in California. 

Webinar: Wellness Coach Scholarship Program Cycle 2

An informational webinar will be held on January 9, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This webinar will include information regarding eligibility and how to apply.

Register Here

Application Dates

  • Opens January 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
  • Closes February 13, 2025, 3:00 p.m.

Resources

Certified Wellness Coach Employer Support Grant Program (CWCES)

The purpose of the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) Employer Support Grant Program is to assist Certified Wellness Coach employers to recruit and employ Certified Wellness Coaches. The Grant Program supports educational institutions and school-based and school-linked health and behavioral health agencies in recruiting and employing Certified Wellness Coaches.

Application Dates

  • Opens January 16, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
  • Closes March 22, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Awards

Resources

What is a Certified Wellness Coach?

The Wellness Coach role is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that has the training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work.

Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support youth behavioral health and well-being, such as wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.

Become a Certified Wellness Coach

Becoming a Certified Wellness Coach (Coach) lets you play a role in improving mental health and well-being of children and youth in California. Discover your path to certification today.

Resources

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