Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health

August 2022

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan

for Kids’ Mental Health

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health California For All

Our kids are facing a

mental health crisis.

The global pandemic put a spotlight on our nation’s mental health crisis –

and the heavy toll borne by the youngest among us,

especially in underserved and marginalized communities.

Nationwide, our kids are more anxious and depressed. They feel isolated and lonely.

Suicide rates are climbing.

for kids’ mental health, California is doubling down with the most signiﬁcant,

multi-year overhaul of our mental health system in state history.

▶ Over 284,000 youth cope with major depression.

▶ 66% of kids with depression do not receive treatment.

▶ Suicide rates for kids ages 10-18 increased 20% between 2019-2020.

of our state’s mental health system –

boosting coverage options, service availability and

public awareness so all children and youth are

routinely assessed, supported, and served.

In California:

$4.7 Billion

and substance use supports.

As other states cut resources We’re taking urgent action to address this crisis.

so every Californian aged 0-25 has

increased access to mental health

California has begun a fundamental overhaul

A More Proactive and Responsive System of Care

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health California For All

Create a virtual platform

for next-generation digital

mental health assessment and

intervention.

We will increase access to services throughout the state, and meet kids where they are

at – at school, online, in primary care facilities, and more.

Expand interventions early on

so children and youth with, or at

high risk for, mental health and/or

substance use conditions can get

the care they need before

conditions worsen.

Expand the capability of clinics to

increase community-based mental

health services so more young

people receive the care they need.

Increase the number of

counselors in our schools

so students can access

mental health services easily,

conveniently, and at no cost.

Build infrastructure and stafﬁng to

ensure young people with the most

signiﬁcant symptoms and severe

disease have high quality settings that

are safe, secure and healing.

Virtual Platform to

Increase Accessibility

Intervene Early

Expand Clinic and

Treatment Slots

Increase Number of

School Counselors

Suicide Prevention

and Crisis Response

Services for Those

With Severe Needs

- Governor

Gavin Newsom

✓✓

Building California’s

Mental Health Systems

“California is stepping up to tackle the mental health crisis

facing kids across the country. We’re overhauling our mental

health system with an unprecedented all-of-the-above approach

to connect families with the care and supports their kids

need to grow up healthier and stronger.”

Develop a targeted youth suicide

prevention program for those at

increased risk, create a 988 suicide and

crisis lifeline, and provide grants for school

and community-based crisis response

following a youth suicide or attempt.

Healthy Minds for California Kids

Mental healthcare shouldn’t break the bank. California’s new plan works to

ensure many vital services are covered by insurance and adds new Medi-Cal

services that jointly support parent-child needs to improve behavioral health.

Help kids get the support they need by increasing access to, and therefore

normalizing, mental healthcare. By raising awareness of Adverse Childhood

Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, we can support prevention and early

intervention of mental health and substance use challenges.

Increase access to a wide range of mental health services, with a focus on

prevention and early intervention, allowing schools to reach more students and

provide more counseling and mental health supports - without footing the bill.

Healthcare Coverage for Parent-Child Services

De-Stigmatize Help for our Kids

Make it Easier for Schools to Provide Prevention

and Treatment

More Resources for Parents

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health California For All

✓✓

- First Partner Jennifer

✓✓

Siebel Newsom

Create more tools, including new, easily digestible video content for

parents to build their knowledge, tools and capacity to support

the behavioral health of their children.

“As a parent, there’s nothing worse than seeing your child in

pain and feeling powerless to help. In California, we take the

mental health and wellbeing of our children seriously, and we’re

tackling this problem head-on with significant investments in

the infrastructure of the state’s mental health system.”

Developing a Workforce

To provide the care our young people need, we

must build the workforce necessary to care for those

who need help. That’s why California is investing in

training programs, and offering new incentives for

those looking to pursue mental health care careers.

Make it easier for youth to receive

information, supports and services

virtually.

Training for Teachers

40,000

behavioral

health

professionals.

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health California For All

✓✓

Increasing the

number of school

counselors,

hiring 10,000 more

professionals and

providing up to $20,000

scholarships for

mental health workers

that spend two years

working in schools.

▶ $4.1 billion on a community schools’ strategy to connect kids and families to essential

services including health screenings, meals and more.

▶ $5 billion on a Medi-Cal initiative, CalAIM, to better integrate health and behavioral

health services for low-income kids.

▶ $1.4 billion to build the healthcare workforce that expands our capacity to meet the

health needs of Californians, including children and families.

California is committed to improving the

mental health and well-being of every child.

Other investments include:

Hire, Train, and Engage More

Mental Health Workers

Expand Remote Access

to Services

Create a pathway for 40,000 new mental

health professionals, offer tuition assistance

and loan forgiveness for those who serve

in behavioral health. We are engaging

2,500 highly talented high school students

interested in mental health careers.

Help our teachers identify warning signs

by providing training for educators on

trauma-informed care.

Pathways and

training for