Cal Voices

07/29/2026

The Commission for Behavioral Health wants to hear from you! If you have participated in your county's Community Planning Process to develop the 3-yr Integrated Plan, please complete the 12-20 minute survey. This survey allows you to stay anonymous. Click on the image to go to the Commission's page to take the survey!

📣Your feedback is needed! We want to know how the Behavioral Health Services Act Community Planning Process went in your county so we can help improve the next one. Fill out the survey by August 6, 2026, to share what went well and what can be improved.

Take the survey online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cbh_cpp_survey

Survey details:
✅The survey takes 12-20 minutes to complete.
✅You can choose to keep your response anonymous.
✅The survey is open to community members, providers & CBOs, and county & State partners.
✅CBH will use the survey response to make recommendations to improve the process.

07/28/2026

If you haven't registered for an upcoming ACCESS California Workshop! Time is running out. 🎉 Our LA and Central (Sacramento) events are closed due to an outstanding turnout by folks in those regions!

We still have space for folks near Costa Mesa, Red Bluff, and Oakland! We hope you can join us. Register today! Fee waivers and travel stipends MAY still be available.

07/27/2026

Cal Voices Advocacy Spotlight:

Cal Voices advocated for the inclusion of Certified Peers in the FY 2026-27 budget to assist with Medi-Cal eligibility and enrollment. While their specific request was not included, the budget allocated funds for Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility activities. Cal Voices will collaborate with the California Behavioral Health Directors Association to explore the deployment of peers as navigators.

07/24/2026

As we posted last week! The Commission for Behavioral Health is seeking members for its public advisory committee! They are seeking passionate individuals to serve on their advisory committees for the Client and Family Leadership Committee (CFLC) and the Cultural and Linguistic Competency Committee (CLCC).

Apply today! Find the application and detailed expectations the CBH website: https://bhsoac.ca.gov/connect/committees/

Deadline: Applications are due no later than August 3, 2026.

Selections will be announced at the August 20, 2026 Commission meeting.

07/23/2026

Join the California Association of Peer Professionals! The membership-based program provides services and benefits to both certified and non-certified behavioral health peer professionals in California, with an emphasis on education, practice guidelines, professional standards, working conditions, career development, and competent supervision.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6710429/Peer-Association-Registration-Form

07/21/2026

Registration is still open for ACCESS California's Regional Networking Events\
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8849778/ACCESS-2026-Regional-Event-Registration

Don't wait—secure your spot today! We can't wait to see you there. 🎉

07/20/2026

Our WISE U Program is still taking applications for its December 2026 training cohort! If you are ready to become a Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialist, apply today!

07/17/2026

On February 3rd, 2026, Cal Voices and the Black Action Alliance hosted the Race for California Governor debate in San Francisco’s Historic Bayview District. The Alliance submitted questionnaires to each candidate addressing key issues, including health equity and the behavioral health workforce. Cal Voices specifically included a question about candidates’ commitment to making peer support services (PSS) a statewide Medi-Cal benefit.

📽 Watch the debate: https://youtu.be/fh4-Aj7Hdv4?si=_hIuIfaNVb0f1Z6S

Xavier Becerra (D) expressed his commitment to prioritizing PSS as a Medi-Cal coverage benefit, while Hilton (R) did not provide a clear stance on the issue. Read

Cal Voices appreciates Becerra’s commitment and looks forward to further discussing the implementation of PSS within the first year of his administration, should he become Governor of California.

📄 Read responses from Becerra (D) regarding the inclusion of PSS as a covered Medi-Cal benefit: https://bit.ly/4aU5FlE

📄 Read responses from Hilton (R) regarding the inclusion of PSS as a covered Medi-Cal benefit: https://bit.ly/4yr9aKv

California voters will head to the polls this year to elect the sta...

07/16/2026

ACCESS California is excited to announce that our local partner, Sustainable Wellness Solutions, has just been chosen to be the A's Nonprofit Partner of the Game on July 17th! ⚾️

The A's will promote the organization during the pre-game announcement, on social media, and during radio broadcast reads! Congrats!

If you are out at the game, stop by their table behind section 120!

07/16/2026

Join us for our next Quarterly Policy Update on July 23, 2026.

Cal Voices' Policy Director Meron Agonafer will host a webinar to educate and inform members of the general public about important state level policy issues, including pending legislation and its impacts, and general policy trends impacting the Client community and services in the Public Behavioral Health System.

Register today! https://bit.ly/4progLW