On July 6, 2023, the State of California announced $30.5 million in grants to 63 organizations to help develop and scale community- and evidence-based practices that support parents, grandparents and other family caregivers.

“California is making unprecedented investments to help kids dealing with mental health challenges,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re meeting kids, parents, and families where they are to deliver critical mental health support – helping them grow up healthier and stronger by connecting them with key resources in their communities.”

Overseen by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and funded through CYBHI, the $429 million Evidence-Based and Community-Defined Evidence Practices (EBP & CDEP) Grant Program seeks to identify and scale successful practices that improve access to critical youth behavioral health interventions — including prevention, early intervention and resiliency/recovery — with a specific focus on children and youth who are Black, indigenous, people of color and/or LQBTQ+. 

Models supported in the first round of grant funding include: Positive Parenting Practices, Incredible Years, Healthy Steps (Medi-Cal Dyadic Services Benefit), Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Effective Black Parenting Program, Positive Indian Parenting, and a variety of other community-defined parenting support programs.

“The CYBHI seeks to reimagine the systems that support behavioral health for California’s children, youth, and their families, especially for those most at risk,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “DHCS is awarding grants to organizations seeking to strengthen families and improve youth behavioral health based on robust evidence for effectiveness for children and families, impact on racial equity, and sustainability.”

Following an 18-month community engagement process involving more than 1,000 young people, family and caregivers, local educational agencies and educators, health care providers and payers, behavioral health experts, and community-based organizations, DHCS developed a grant strategy that identified on a limited number of EBPs and CDEPs to consider for scaling throughout the state. 

The program’s second round of grant awards — focused on trauma-informed programs and practices — will be announced in the coming months.   

To learn more about the Evidence-Based and Community-Defined Evidence Practices Grant Program, visit the CYBHI website.