California Behavioral Health Programs: Peer Personnel Training and Placement

916.326.3700
BHPrograms@HCAI.ca.gov

This program offers grants to provide training and placement of peer personnel in California. Awardees must provide training to peer personnel that meets the 80-hour training requirements under the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program. Peer personnel can be individuals with lived experience in mental/behavioral health services as a consumer, family member, and/or caregiver.

The proposed program must contain all of the required components:

• Recruitment and outreach
• Career counseling
• Training
• Placement
• Post-placement support
• Evaluation
• Financial assistance as necessary

Programs are expected to target populations in underserved, unserved, and/or inappropriately served communities.

Eligible applicants include:

• Counties
• Community-based organizations (CBOs)
• Educational institutions
• Training organizations
• A group of organizations listed above with one organization identified as the fiscal sponsor

All applicants must be able to:

• Identify peer personnel needs
• Identify partner educational institution(s) and/or training organization(s)
• Provide training that prepares peer personnel to qualify for and obtain placement
• Provide support that will ensure peer personnel retain placement
• Demonstrate experience in training and supporting individuals with lived experiences as consumers, family members, and caregivers

Up to $1,000,000 per award.

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the online application are available on the program website.

Technical assistance guide