What if children could access behavioral health support where they already are—in their homes, schools, and communities—without having to seek them out?
That’s the vision behind California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). In response to rising behavioral health needs among young people, McKinsey worked with the California Department of Health Care Services to build a more sustainable system for delivering behavioral health care. The effort gives schools a way to expand services while strengthening digital and community-based behavioral health support.
As McKinsey Partner Ramya Parthasarathy explains, this approach helps schools “strengthen services, reach more kids, and avoid disruptions typical with short-term grant-based funding.”
The results are already promising. Since launching in 2021, CYBHI has allocated $2.1 billion to over 1,600 organizations to expand behavioral health programs, enrolled 3.6 million students in participating school programs, and provided digital behavioral health support to more than 500,000 children, youth, and caregivers.
This International Youth Day, explore stories about supporting young people and helping communities thrive through health, education and technology.
Expanding access to behavioral health care for California’s children and youth
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