CHA News

DHCS Announces Behavioral Health Pilot Project Awardees

For CNOs, CMOs, behavioral health staff, emergency department directors, human resources executives

This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.

The Department of Health Care Services is awarding grant funds to 212 general acute care hospitals through the Behavioral Health Pilot Project (BHPP).

The BHPP will support hospitals with hiring and training behavioral health counselors to connect individuals with mental health and substance use treatment in the emergency department. The BHPP is based on the successful CA Bridge program, which combines Medication for Addiction Treatment in hospital emergency departments with support from a substance use counselor to help people get into ongoing substance use treatment.

See BHPP’s cover letter for an overview of the project, and the list of awardees for participating hospitals. Awarded organizations may also apply for supplemental funding if they received less than $100,000. Questions about the program can be directed to Monica.Zendejas@dhcs.ca.gov.