CA DHCS Awards New Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative Grantees

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Community Services Division awarded $3,379,705 to 14 new peer-run behavioral health (BH) organizations throughout the state as part of the second round of the Peer Workforce Investment (PWI) and Expanding Peer Organization Capacity (EPOC) projects. Five new PWI grantees received a total of $1,579,906 and nine new EPOC grantees received a total of $1,799,799 for these 19-month projects. The PWI and EPOC projects help peer organizations build their infrastructure and capacity to deliver peer recovery supports for individuals with mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The PWI project is focused on established peer organizations, while the EPOC project is focused on newer, emerging peer organizations.

The PWI and EPOC projects are part of DHCS’ Behavioral Health Workforce Development (BHWD) initiative. The overarching goal of BHWD is to expand, elevate, enhance, and empower BH peer-run programs in every California community. Through program expansion and enhanced collaboration with health, social services, and other systems, peer-run programs can help California move closer to its goal of equity in BH services throughout every county in the state.

Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. is proud to be the Administrative Entity for this program.

 

Behavioral Health Workforce Development logo
Behavioral Health Workforce Development logo
May 9th is National Fentanyl Awareness Day
Fentanyl Awareness Day

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day of action to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people dying at alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. 

  • In California, over 6,140 people died from a fentanyl-related overdose in 2021. This accounted for 55 percent of all drug-related overdoses. 
  • Fentanyl is involved in more American youth drug deaths than heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos, and Rx drugs combined.
  • Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
  • 35 percent of American teens aged 13-17 don’t know enough about fentanyl to rate its danger.

Help us spread the word about the risks of fentanyl, and share this information across your networks:

  • The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a fentanyl webpage where you can learn more about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips.
  • Fentanyl is cheap, potent, and profitable, so dealers use it to make fake pills. It can also be found in party drugs like cocaine and MDMA. 
  • If you’re considering using drugs, test your product for fentanyl, carry naloxone, and know the signs of an overdose.
  • Fake pills have been found in all fifty states. Assume any prescription pill you see online is fake. 
  • Fake pills are the main reason fentanyl-involved deaths are fastest growing amongst youth. 

Helpful resources:

  • If you are struggling with drug use and want help to make positive change, call California’s statewide treatment referral line at 800-879-2772 or connect with a harm reduction organization through CDPH’s directory.
  • If you are part of an organization that is interested in distributing naloxone, read more about the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project and learn how to apply.
  • Get naloxone from your local pharmacy or by using the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s naloxone access map.

CARS Report

Review the newly released findings and recommendations from the fall 2021 California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment survey!

Two Adults Reviewing Document
Mentored Internship Program logo

Mentored Internship Program, Round 2, Awarded

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $17,653,585 to 39 behavioral health organizations throughout the state as part of the Mentored Internship Program. The grants support the development of mentors among behavioral health service providers. For more information, please read the news release issued by the Governor’s Office. 

 Award details are available here:
Round 1
Round 2

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: A Friend in Deed (FIND)

EPOC grantee A Friend in Deed (FIND) is centered in elevating voices and ensuring participants receive training and support to be most effective, providing direct services (especially outside of standard business hours), and conducting advocacy are core activities.

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Logo of Sac Youth Center

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: Sacramento Youth Center

EPOC grantee Sacramento Youth Center aims to deliver a quality space for youth to find support, services and healthy peer community. 

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: Consumers Self Help Center

PWI grantee Consumers Self Help Center aims to bridge the gap between the community and behavioral health by meeting people where they are at, through field-based outreach, compassion, and cultural competency.

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Logo of CAMHPRO

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: CAMHPRO

The California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations (CAMHPRO) a consumer-run organization made up of other established, independent, and successful consumer-run organizations, and individual consumer members, joined our grantee coaches for an interview. 

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: One New Heartbeat

PWI/EPOC Grantee One New Heartbeat, an organization that provides education and support on personal wellbeing, joined our grantee coaches for an interview.

Logo of One New Heartbeat against blue and yellow gradient
Logo of The Happier Life Project

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: The Happier Life Project

PWI/EPOC Grantee the Happier Life Project, a recovery community organization, joined our grantee coaches for an interview.

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: Central California LGBTQ+ Collaborative

PWI/EPOC grantee the Central California LGBTQ+ Collaborative for Well-Being, an association dedicated to Education, Advocacy, and Training for inclusion of all members of the community, sat down for an interview with our grantee coaches. 

Logo of CA LGBTQ+ Collaborative
Woman helping man on computer at library

Announcement: DHCS awards new BHWD program

The Community Services Division of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $51.5 million on March 10, 2022, to its newest Behavioral Health Workforce Development (BHWD) program—the Mentored Internship Program (MIP).