In 2022, CalHHS commissioned a paper regarding how the CYBHI (the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative) can most effectively achieve its extraordinary goal of fundamentally expanding and improving California’s child, youth, and family behavioral health ecosystem. The Opportunity Institute was proud to be part of the amazing multidisciplinary team (led by Breaking Barriers California and supported by BCG) that wrote this paper, "California's Children & Youth Behavioral Health Ecosystem." The effort was led by CYBHI Director, Melissa Stafford Jones, and included children, youth, families, and those that serve and support them. It gives guidance and practical advice on the best pathways to providing more supportive, accessible, comprehensive, and effective assistance and defines how our shared goal to serve the whole child can be achieved through collective impact.
This paper is a critical step in state efforts to realize sustainable and impactful change in the health and wellbeing of all of California's children, youth and families. In coming weeks, look for more information from Breaking Barriers' and its' amazing ecosystem partners to further unite children, youth, families, and those that serve and support them in achieving the community of care and support we all want and need.