Oct 27, 2021
HHS Secretary Becerra announced a new overdose prevention strategy on October 27th. The new overdose prevention strategy is designed to increase access to the full range of care and services for individuals and their families who are affected by substance use. The strategy prioritizes four key target areas: primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. It also recognizes the need for substance use services to be incorporated into continuum of integrated care to help sustain recovery from substance use disorders (SUD).
Sep 21, 2021
On behalf of the Statewide Overdose Safety (SOS) Workgroup and partners, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is releasing an action notice for providers. This action notice details best practices to consider and offers supportive resources to use when inheriting patients on opioid therapy due to facility closures and other causes. This action notice is signed by CDPH, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), and the Medical Board of California (MBC).
Sep 9, 2021
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a focused update to the National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in 2020. The updated guideline is intended to inform and empower clinicians, health system administrators, criminal justice system administrators, and policymakers who are interested in implementing evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).
ASAM has developed several important quick-reference tools to assist with the implementation of the new recommendations:
Sep 7, 2021
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in partnership with Aurrera Health Group, has recently released the Substance Use Disorder Licensing and Certification Toolkit. DHCS collaborated with Aurrera Health Group to design this toolkit with the goal of offering new and existing SUD Outpatient and Residential providers an overview and helpful tips.
Aug 31, 2021
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is committed to preventing overdose deaths in communities throughout California. As we remember the 8,682 Californians lost to overdose in 2020, we wanted to provide resources available to prevent overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you think you’re at risk of an overdose or can help someone who is, connect with harm reduction services and carry naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote. Here’s how:
· Get naloxone from your local pharmacy or by using the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s naloxone access map
· If you are struggling with drug use and want help to make positive change, call California’s statewide treatment referral line at 800-879-2772 or connect with a harm reduction organization through CDPH’s directory
If you are part of an organization that is interested in distributing naloxone, read more about the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project and learn how to apply
Jul 21, 2021
DHCS is releasing a funding opportunity to solicit responses from California county or city behavioral health agencies, or joint applications of city or county behavioral health agencies to support and expand behavioral health mobile crisis and non-crisis services through the Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) Program.
DHCS is offering two separate tracks of funding. Applicants may apply for either Track 1 or Track 2 funding, but not both:
- Track 1 – Planning grants for up to $200,000 to assess the need, and develop an action plan to address the need of mobile crisis and non-crisis programs; and
- Track 2 – Implementation grants for up to $1 million for each new or expanded CCMU team.
The total funding amount available for this project is $205 million. $150 million will be available for infrastructure development and support from September 15, 2021 through June 30, 2025 and $55 million will be available for direct services or infrastructure from September 15, 2021 through February 14, 2023.
The application due date is August 23, 2021, and questions are due by August 16, 2021. Please send all questions and RFA submissions to BHRRP@dhcs.ca.gov.
Access the RFA
CCMU Grantee – Budget Template
