California Health Care Foundation
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          The California Health Care Foundation is an independent, nonprofit philanthropy that works to improve the health care system so that all Californians have the care they need.

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          CHCF works on many different fronts to support California’s health care system. Explore resources, events, or networks related to each topic.

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          CHCF publishes reports, articles, issue briefs, explainers, data snapshots, infographics, fact sheets, and other resources to help make meaningful change possible in California’s health care system.

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          The California Health Care Foundation is an independent, nonprofit philanthropy that works to improve the health care system so that all Californians have the care they need.

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Mental Health

We are working to improve California’s health care system to better serve people with mental health needs, especially those with serious mental illness. We support integration of physical and behavioral health services, expanding crisis response alternatives, addressing workforce shortages, and promoting innovative payment models.

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    Featured Publications

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    Inside CHCF

    New University of California Program Will Double Pipeline of Specialized Mental Health Providers in Response to Growing Crisis

    With California facing an urgent and growing shortage of mental health professionals, three schools of nursing within the University of California system (UCSF, UC Davis, and UCLA) are announcing the launch today of a new online certificate program that will prepare 300 psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners by 2025.

    January 29, 2020

    Together for Wellness

    March 9, 2021
    Portrait of Maga Jackson-Triche

    Attending to Mind and Body Together with Collaborative Care

    June 1, 2021
    Behavioral Health
    Portrait of Ava Capen

    BeMe: A Digital Lifeline for Teens with Mental Health Struggles

    August 25, 2023
    Technology and Innovation
    Charcoal illustration of two face profiles overlapping each other

    Bridging the Divide Between Mental Health Care and Addiction Treatment

    September 21, 2021
    Behavioral Health

    Recent Resources

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    Reynaldo Vargas, a therapist working toward licensure, is learning how to navigate difficult cases in Contra Costa County with the help of his remote supervisor.
    Resource

    Counties Embrace New Approach to Getting Therapist Trainees Licensed

    Motivo Health increases access to clinical supervision, smoothing the pathway to California licensure for needed mental health providers.

    April 11, 2025
    Resource
    Behind the Headline
    Group of men and women sitting together talking.
    Resource

    Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce: Evaluation of the Lay Counselor Academy

    An evaluation of the Lay Counselor Academy finds the program effectively upskills health and social workers to provide mental health support. The program could play a pivotal role in addressing immediate and long-term shortages in the mental health workforce.

    April 18, 2025
    Resource
    Case Study
    Wider Circle member Joscelyn Jenkins, right, attended a Black History Month event in Los Angeles in February.
    Resource

    Wider Circle Getting Big Results from Its Strategy to Ease Loneliness

    It may seem like a social club, but Wider Circle is actually a targeted intervention to improve members’ mental and physical health.

    April 17, 2025
    Resource
    Feature Story
    Young girl in knit hat looking into distance at dusk.
    Resource

    Mental Health and Substance Use Almanac — 2018 Edition

    For adolescents, mental illnesses and substance use disorders often occur together. This report paints a picture of California youth and the behavioral health conditions they face.

    December 3, 2018
    Resource
    Report

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    OAKLAND
    1438 Webster Street #400
    Oakland, CA 94612
    Tel: 510.238.1040 Fax: 510.201.2991
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    1415 L Street #820
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    Tel: 916.329.4540 Fax: 916.329.4544
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