Grants for Organizations

Behavioral Health Programs

The Behavioral Health Programs address workforce through activities that provide financial support for students and professionals, build training capacity, and develop career pathways.

Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) 2026-2030 Workforce Education and Training (WET) Plan

The final approved Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) 2026–2030 Workforce Education and Training (WET) Plan is now available

Following a robust, collaborative development process and a comprehensive public review, the Plan was formally approved by the California Behavioral Health Planning Council (CBHPC) on June 19, 2026. Official implementation of this landmark five-year behavioral health workforce framework begins July 1, 2026.

Read the BHSA 2026-2030 WET Plan


WET Plan Background & Development

HCAI developed the BHSA 2026–2030 WET Plan pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 5820, subdivisions (c)–(e).

The Plan identifies critical behavioral health workforce needs within California’s county behavioral health system and provides a strategic framework for allocating BHSA funds. These targeted investments support workforce education, training, and development initiatives designed to advance access to high-quality care for individuals with significant behavioral health conditions.

Public Engagement & Webinar Materials

In May 2026, HCAI hosted public webinars to present an overview of the draft plan, highlighting key priorities, proposed strategies, and planned investment areas. A formal public comment period followed, closing May 29, 2026.

HCAI synthesized community partner feedback into a final report to ensure transparency in how public input directly shaped the final plan. You can review the presentation materials and public feedback summary below:
Presentation Slides │Webinar Recording Session 1│Webinar Recording Session 2

For historical reference, the previous five-year plan is also available:
Read the MHSA 2020-2025 WET Plan

Contact Us

Email: BHSAWorkforce@hcai.ca.gov

Behavioral Health Programs

Peer Personnel Training and Placement Program

HCAI contracts with Peer Personal Training Programs to support individuals with lived experience as a mental/behavioral health services consumer, family member, or caregiver placed in designated peer positions. 

Application Cycle : CLOSED

Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle in January 2027.

Application Dates

Open January 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Close March 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Resources

Awards

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program

HCAI is offering the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Residency Training Program (MBH-RTP) as part of the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Workforce Initiative. The goal of the MBH-RTP is to increase the availability of General Psychiatrists, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Addiction Psychiatrists and Addiction Medicine Physicians that are trained and serve in Medi-Cal safety net settings.

Resources

Check Eligibility

Find out if you are eligible for HCAI funding.

Take Eligibility Quiz

Previously Funded Programs

The programs below do not have future planned funding at this time.

Community-Based Organization Behavioral Health Workforce Grant Program

The Community-Based Organization (CBO) Behavioral Health Workforce Grant Program will support CBOs to recruit and retain behavioral health personnel, and provide loan repayments, scholarships, and stipends to paid and unpaid CBO behavioral health staff.

Resources

Awards

Substance Use Disorder/Justice System-Involved Youth (SUD/JSIY) Training Request for Information

HCAI invites vendors to review and respond to this non-binding Request for Information (RFI), which will provide information to HCAI to inform the planning, design, development, and launch of the behavioral health training for non-medical and non-behavioral health professionals by June 2023. HCAI may use the RFI to contract with one of the respondents of this RFI. HCAI will use the responses to this RFI to develop a scope of work for the aforementioned contract.

Resources

Substance Use Disorder Earn and Learn Grant Program

This grant opportunity will result in a three-year agreement with Substance Use Disorder Earn and Learn organizations who provide education and paid job experience for students earning their Substance Use Disorder certification.

Resources

Awards

Social Work Education Capacity Expansion (SWECE) Grant Program

This grant opportunity will result in grant agreements with educational institutions to develop new Bachelor of Art in Social Work (BASW) and/or Master of Social Work (MSW) programs as well as serve to expand MSW programs.

Webinar

An informational webinar was held on March 7, 2024
Webinar Recording

Resources

Awards

Psychiatric Education Capacity Expansion (PECE) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Grant Program

The purpose of this program is to enter into grant agreement(s) for grantee(s) to fund increased numbers of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) training in California, including, but not limited to:

  1. Adding PMHNP field placements.
  2. Recruiting PMHNP students who can provide care consistent with PECE guiding principles. 
  3. Recruiting culturally diverse PMHNP students who can provide culturally competent care.
  4. Increasing the number of hours PMHNP students are trained.
  5. Providing clinical supervision that leads to American Nurses Credentialing and/or American Association of Nurse Practitioners national certification.
  • Please review the 2022-23 PECE Grant Guides for program guidance and requirements.

Webinar

An informational webinar was held on March 5, 2024
Webinar Recording

Resources

Awards

Psychiatric Education Capacity Expansion (PECE) – Psychiatry Residency Grant Program

The purpose of this program is to enter into grant agreement(s) for grantee(s) to train psychiatry residents and fellows in California, including, but not limited to: 

  1. Adding psychiatry residency/fellowship slots to an existing psychiatry residency/fellowship program.
  2. Recruiting residents and/or fellows who can provide care consistent with the guiding principles. 
  3. Recruiting culturally diverse residents and/or fellows who can provide culturally competent care.
  4. Increasing the number of hours psychiatry residents and/or fellows trained.
  5. Providing clinical supervision that leads to Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification.

Please review the 2022-23 PECE Grant Guides for program guidance and requirements.

Webinar

An informational webinar was held on March 5, 2024
Webinar Recording

Resources

Awards

Regional Partnership

This grant opportunity will result in agreement(s) with WET Regional Partnerships (RP) administering programs that oversee training and support to the Public Mental Health System workforce in their region.

The RP program must have one or more of the following components:

  • Pipeline Development
  • Undergraduate College and University Scholarships
  • Clinical Master and Doctoral Graduate Education Stipends.
  • Loan Repayment Program
  • Retention Activities

Awards

Contact Us

Email: behavioralhealthworkforce@hcai.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 326-3700

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