California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)

The CYBHI is a state-funded program aimed at improving mental and behavioral health services for children and youth. It ensures young people have access to the care and support they need for emotional, mental, and social well-being.

The State of California partners with schools and health plans to make sure that students can get mental health and emotional wellbeing support in schools across the state. Schools already offer an array of mental health services to meet the needs of students; however, securing funding for these services can be a challenge.

 

Under this new program, California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools (including K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities) for covered mental health services provided to students under the age of 26. State law prohibits health plans and insurers from passing any of the cost of these services on to families.

 

This means that the health plans and insurers will pay for mental health services provided to your child in a school-linked setting and there WILL NOT be any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., co-payments, deductibles) for you and your family.

The initiative serves all children and youth in California, focusing on increasing access to services for students in schools, including those covered by Medi-Cal and those with limited access to mental health care.

• Mental health counseling and therapy
• Screening and early identification of behavioral health concerns
• Peer support and community-based services
• Crisis response resources
• Training for educators and school staff to better support students

Services may be available through your child’s school, local community health organizations, or behavioral health providers. Contact your child’s school for information on available programs.

These services are completely free and receiving these services in school WILL NOT affect your child’s coverage under the health plan or insurer.

All information shared during behavioral health services is confidential and protected under federal and state laws, including FERPA and HIPAA, where applicable. Insurance information collected by families is completely confidential. You and your child are entitled to privacy, confidentiality, and protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law that provides the privacy and security of health information. Your child’s health insurance information will not be shared with any outside entities, except as necessary to enable you or your child’s school district, college, or university to receive reimbursement for mental health services provided to your child and/or family, or as otherwise permitted under state and federal law (e.g., reporting to the California Department of Health Care Services).

If your child does not have insurance, you may be able to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California for low-cost or free coverage. Apply online at www.coveredca.com or through your local county social services office.

 

Your student will STILL BE ELIGIBLE to receive services, regardless of insurance status. However, the district may not be able to be reimbursed for these services.

Your child may still receive no-cost mental health services at school. However, if you decide not to provide your child’s health insurance information, your school cannot access this critical source of funding for schools. If your child is eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they are entitled to receive mental health services and supports pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your decision to provide (or not provide) your child’s health insurance information WILL NOT affect your child’s eligibility for these services.