California Health & Human Services Agency

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson and CYBHI Director Dr. Sohil Sud joined First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom & community members in Sacramento to highlight California’s efforts to expand access to physical activity and promote the links between movement, mindfulness, and mental well-being.

“Research continues to show that regular movement and mindfulness practices can improve mental health, reduce stress, and strengthen emotional well-being,” said CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson. “These initiatives encourage Californians of all ages to explore the connection between physical activity, mindfulness, and overall health.”

The Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind initiative provides Californians of all ages with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness & overall health. Learn more at moveyourbodycalmyourmind.org. 💪🏽🧠✨

By connecting with others, there are numerous pathways to accessing mental health support. Learn more and find tools to support children, youth & families at your fingertips at cybhi.chhs.ca.gov.

Real change takes more than funding; it takes seeing the process through. Under Behavioral Health Transformation, counties must submit three-year integrated plans showing how behavioral health dollars will be used, what outcomes will be measured, and how workforce needs will be addressed.

This month, we celebrate a significant milestone – all counties submitted their draft Integrated Plans and are well on their way to meeting the June 30th deadline for final Integrated Plans. Integrated Plans represent a significant step forward in transparency for behavioral health services and funding. For more information visit https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/BHT/Pages/IPCP-FAQ.aspx andhttps://www.dhcs.ca.gov/BHT/Documents/BHSA-County-Reporting-Timelines.pdf

You are not alone.

Natural disasters don't just impact our physical surroundings, they take a toll on our mental health, too.

To support our community, Ready California has made a guide to help Californians strengthen their mental well-being and protect the people they care about:

listoscalifornia.org/impact-initiatives/mental-health/

CARE Court judges across California are working to link people living with severe mental illness to the treatment, medication, housing and support services they need to recover and stabilize.

These connections are made possible through collaboration between the courts, first responders and behavioral health teams—all working toward better outcomes for communities across the state.

Learn more about the CARE Act at www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act.

Some families may need to apply to receive SUN Bucks if their child gets Medi-Cal through:
• foster care
• Adoption Assistance Program
• Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment

Submit your application by August 31, 2026. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Yzvlxn.

DHCS uses strong oversight tools to protect the Medi-Cal program and ensure providers follow the rules. While some audits are performed at regular intervals, as required for specific programs, other audits may be triggered when data shows unusual patterns, high risk behavior or utilization, or enrollment anomalies—issues highlighted across recent fraud investigations and statewide Program Integrity efforts.

When concerns arise, DHCS’ Audits & Investigations teams act quickly: reviewing claims, suspending billing when needed, and referring credible allegations of fraud to allied law enforcement partners for criminal prosecution. These safeguards help maintain provider accountability and keep Medi-Cal resources focused on patient care.

🔗 Learn more or report suspected fraud: dhcs.ca.gov/Program-Integrity