Workforce Education & Training

California’s public mental health system will build and support a strong workforce that can provide culturally respectful services tailored to individuals and families, using proven approaches that promote wellness, recovery, resilience, and positive mental health outcomes.

Workforce Education and Training (WET), as a component of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), is intended to address identified occupational shortages and education and training needs of the public mental health workforce.

 

Workforce Retention Strategy Programs

 

We are pleased to announce that the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) will partner with DHCS and others to support workforce training, recruitment, and retention of behavioral health care providers who serve people with Medi-Cal and/or those who do not have insurance.

HCAI will implement the following five statewide workforce programs over a five-year period.

The Five Statewide Programs Are:

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program	2026 Application Cycle 2: Closed Check back here for information regarding application May 2027.
Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Scholarship Program	Application Dates Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle in February 2027
Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Recruitment and Retention Program	Application Dates Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle in March 2027
Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Community-Based Provider Training Program	Application Dates Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle in March 2027
Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Fellowship Training Program	Application Dates Check back here for information regarding the next application cycle in March 2027

 

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Training Catalog to Meet New AOD Counselor Education Requirements

09.23.25-Relias-SUD-Training-Catalog.pdf(PDF, 365KB)

BHIN 25-029 to implement the new AOD (Alcohol and Drug) Counselor Education requirements, passed via AB 2473 in 2022, has been finalized and posted by DHCS. AB 2473 created core education requirements for registered and certified counselors. It also increased the required training hours for registered counselors to match the training required for Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialists.

Registered and certified AOD counselors who work in contracted DBH programs and need to complete their required core competency training can contact their assigned DBH staff analyst to request access to Relias. Registered and certified AOD counselors employed by DBH may request approval from their supervisor to self-enroll in applicable Relias courses. For a listing of Relias courses organized by core competency category, please see the training catalog linked above.