In January 2024, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through a partnership with Brightline and Kooth US, launched the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform, which includes two online applications to support the needs of kids and young adults: BrightLife Kids is for parents or caregivers and kids 0-12 years old. Soluna is for teens and young adults ages 13-25.
Both apps offer free coaching services with qualified behavioral health wellness coaches in English and Spanish, telephone-based coaching in all Medi-Cal threshold languages, age-tailored educational content, online tools and assessments, care navigation services, peer communities and crisis and safety resources for users who are experiencing mental health crises or need immediate assistance.
Launched under the CalHOPE umbrella, these applications complement existing services offered by health plans, counties and schools by providing additional care options and resources for parents and caregivers, children, youth and young adults in California.These apps are accessible, secure, and compliant with state privacy and safety regulations. They also follow robust safety and risk escalation protocols. Trained behavioral health professionals monitor app usage to identify potential risks, licensed behavioral health professionals are on standby to intervene, if clinically appropriate, and each app will connect users to crisis or emergency services, when needed.
BrightLife Kids is available for download on IOS devices in the Apple App Store and will be available for Android devices in mid-2024; Soluna is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Both are available on the web at CalHOPE.org
DHCS has also partnered with Child Mind Institute to develop next-generation digital support strategies, such as augmented reality tools, to enhance service delivery. These tools will go through extensive testing before they are made available to children, youth and families in 2026.
Launch two free behavioral health services applications for all families with kids, teens, and young adults ages 0-25.
Improve equity and access to free digital behavioral health services for children and youth throughout the state.
Ensure Soluna is centered on the youth perspective (i.e., built by youth, for youth) and BrightLife is centered on parents and caregivers.
Ensure the safety and security of the platforms and deliver age-appropriate content, as applicable, including self-service tools, peer-to-peer moderated forums, 1:1 coaching via in-app chat, video visits and telephone and care navigation support to help youth and families get connected to community-based supports when they need assistance connecting to care options.
Partner with key youth-serving organizations and systems, including schools and school districts, to drive the adoption of the platform.
Develop next-generation digital support tools to enhance care delivery and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.
In January 2024, launched two free behavioral health services applications for all families with kids, teens, and young adults ages 0-25.
Executed contracts with the vendors for each of the youth platforms.
With youth input, selected vendors for each of the youth platforms – Brightline (ages 0-12 and caregivers) and Kooth (ages 13-25).
Executed a contract with Child Mind Institute to develop next-generation digital supports.
Conducted numerous youth focus groups, key informant interviews, and several public stakeholder engagement events (e.g., monthly public webinars).
Engaged 1,000+ stakeholders, including more than 500 children and youth, to inform the platform design and product decisions.
Completed an extensive market scan/landscape analysis.
Convened an expert panel think tank composed of multidisciplinary state and national experts, as well as youth and parents/caregivers, to inform features of the platform, identify “user journeys,” understand interdependencies, and determine opportunities for collaborative partnerships.
