Governor Newsom announced on Wednesday that $480.5 million in funding for 54 projects to enhance California's behavioral mental health infrastructure for children and youth is part of his Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health initiative. For more information on the grants, follow this link here.

This investment comes from Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health. It provides:

• Money to build new facilities and expand existing ones that help kids.
• Assists young people with substance abuse issues
• Transition young people to safe areas
• Provide young people with people they can trust

With community wellness/youth prevention centers, outpatient treatment for substance use disorders, school-linked health centers, and outpatient community mental health clinics as examples, these initiatives will provide more care while reducing restraints in the least restrictive settings. The following are some of the activities planned:

• $57.4 Million for a Psychiatric Acute Care Hospital: In Los Angeles, the Kedren South Psychiatric Acute Care Hospital & Children's Village will get $3.4 million in funding for a psychiatric acute care hospital with 36 beds.

• $27.6 Million to Treat Substance Use Disorder, Boost Slots in Orange County: With 32 beds, the Orange County Health Care Agency will add adolescent residential treatment centers for teens with substance use disorder (SUD) to its current roster of 2,626 slots.

• $9.3 million will be used to fund an adult residential treatment facility in Watsonville: Seven beds will be available at the Treatment Center to help patients suffering from SUD, while 106 slots are available for Outpatient Therapy.

• $7.9 million will pay for a Community Mental Health Outpatient Clinic in Hoopa: The Yurok Youth Center manages all grants. This money pays for 300 people to go to the clinic. The community wellness/youth prevention center can help 1,450 people. Outpatient treatment for SUD (substance use disorder) can help 27 people. The school-linked health center can help 50 people.

In California, mental health issues are increasingly affecting young people at alarming levels, which is highest between the ages of 18 to 25. According to recent research, half of severe mental illnesses can be diagnosed by age 14, while three-fourths can be recognized by age 24. Substance use is also often reported during adolescence.

These numbers highlight the importance of mental health communities and organizations striving to raise awareness and provide services that strengthen early intervention and prevention. 

Also, thirteen percent of children aged three to seventeen in California reported having at least one mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral health problem. In addition, eight percent of children have a severe emotional disturbance that limits their ability to participate in daily activities.

With increased attention on mental health among these crucial age groups, we have a more promising chance of reducing mental illness rates for future generations.

The Department of Health Care Services releases $2.1 billion to six groups. These groups will use the money to help improve the state's infrastructure for behavioral health facilities:

• Round 1: Crisis Care Mobile Units.
• Round 2: County and Tribal Planning Grant.
• Round 3: Launch Ready, totaling $739.5 million, was awarded in 2021 and earlier this year.
• Round 4: Children and Youth grants include cities, counties, Tribal entities, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations statewide that serve target populations.
• Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum Request for Application for $480 million was released on October 20, and awards will be made in spring 2023. This round of funding will continue to expand behavioral health service capacity across the state.
• Round 6: Outstanding Needs Remaining After Rounds 3 Through 5.

Check out their website for more information about grant amounts and funding rounds.

How Student Hires Handle Mental Health?

Student Hires delivers hands-on experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students from disadvantaged communities designed to prepare them for career success. Led by college students, these programs provide a valuable mental health outlet through community event interactions, scholarship development, giveaways, and more.

These programs instill in the youth confidence and a sense of purpose. Our goal is to equip the next generation of students with essential skills for future job markets, empowering their mental well-being as they start toward meaningful employment.

Conclusion

These new grants will fund critical services for children and families who have been deeply affected by issues surrounding their community. With more plans like this being created every year, we will build a long-lasting impact on mental health for our youth.