A Glimpse into Recent Updates on CYBHI's Transformative Initiatives
In the ever-evolving landscape of California's Child & Youth Behavioral Initiative (CYBHI), this week was marked by a flurry of updates and progress. In this article, we'll turn our attention to the recent developments directly affecting K-12 Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).
Background
Launched in July 2021 with a substantial $4.7 billion investment spanning five years, CYBHI is a visionary initiative led by California's Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS). Its mission? To reimagine and revolutionize the way California addresses the emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs of its children and families. This comprehensive endeavor is structured around four key strategic areas, each with its own set of workstreams, all meticulously coordinated by several state departments. While the Student Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHIP) is well underway, this article will primarily focus on the updates for the remaining projects that are still unfolding.
CYBHI Fee Schedule
In a significant stride toward aiding LEAs in comprehending the intricacies of the CYBHI fee schedule, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released an enlightening video introduction. This video distills all the essential information LEAs need to navigate this new landscape.
Moreover, DHCS conducted its inaugural technical assistance webinar on Sept. 14, 2023. This session was tailor-made to guide LEAs through the application process for Learning Cohort 1. As a reminder, DHCS is following an iterative approach to implementing the CYBHI Fee Schedule. By 2025, this fee schedule will become an open resource available to all LEAs wishing to harness its benefits.
Notably, 40 County Offices of Education (COEs) completed their statements of interest for Learning Cohort 1, recommending 136 LEAs for consideration. This group of LEAs represents:
52% of California counties
34% of students in TK-12 public schools statewide
66% of participants in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program
The application process for Learning Cohort 1 is quite comprehensive, requiring LEAs to certify their eligibility to participate (e.g., they must be an enrolled Medi-Cal Provider), detail their service delivery infrastructure (e.g., staff and facilities for billable services), outline their data collection and documentation procedures and protocols, and demonstrate their billing infrastructure readiness. DHCS will announce their final decisions for Cohort 1 by December 1, 2023.
School-Linked Partnership Grants
Another vital aspect of the CYBHI initiative is the release of grant funding to help LEAs establish infrastructure related to behavioral health and substance use services. DHCS will allocate $550 million in total, with approximately $400 million earmarked for K-12 public schools. This funding will support various aspects of infrastructure, from enhancing service provision through modifications to physical spaces to investing in Electronic Health Record (EHR) software and boosting administrative capacities to streamline billing and claims processes.
In a recent public update, it was confirmed that for funds allocated to K-12 LEAs, the grants will be administered by Sacramento County Office of Education and Santa Clara County Office of Education. These two entities are expected to collaborate with other COE partners to oversee grant implementation activities. They will also provide robust technical assistance to COEs and LEAs utilizing the CYBHI fee schedule, ensuring a seamless transition and effective utilization of these resources.
At Paradigm, our unwavering commitment to the success of California's LEAs is at the heart of everything we do. As these transformative initiatives within the CYBHI continue to unfold, we stand alongside LEAs across the state, ready to support their journey every step of the way. Whether it's navigating the intricacies of the CYBHI fee schedule, charting a course through the application process, or leveraging school-linked partnership grants, we are dedicated partners to LEAs. Together, we will ensure that these opportunities are harnessed to their fullest potential, empowering communities across California to provide the best possible services. The triumphs of LEAs are our triumphs, and we look forward to continuing this remarkable journey together.
