Supported by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, FoundationCCC is growing the state’s behavioral health workforce 

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) today announced the fifth phase of the Wellness Coach Designated Education Program, administered in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Napa Valley College will receive $199,980, while Antelope Valley College will participate without grant funding under a streamlined process developed with HCAI guidance.

The program is part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, a key component of the state’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health.

With funding from HCAI, the Wellness Coach Designated Education Program helps California Community Colleges develop and expand career-focused pathways in social work, human services, psychology, and addiction studies. The program complements students’ existing degree programs by providing a pathway to state certification. By completing the required curriculum and core competencies, students become eligible to apply for state certification and earn the Certified Wellness Coach I credential.

Certified Wellness Coaches are trained in early intervention and non-clinical support. They integrate into existing teams to promote social-emotional well-being, help prevent behavioral health challenges, and connect youth and families to community resources. Once certified, they are prepared to work in schools, community-based organizations, and health centers, focusing on serving youth (0-25) in underserved communities.

Since the Wellness Coach Designated Education Program launched in February 2024, $6,337,751 has been awarded to 33 colleges across five funding phases. Participating colleges now span Northern California, the Bay Area, Central California, the Central Coast, Los Angeles County, and Southern California.

“The geographic distribution of these colleges is especially important given California’s ongoing behavioral health workforce shortages. Many of the regions served by participating colleges overlap with federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Areas, where communities face limited access to behavioral health providers, long wait times for care, transportation barriers, and workforce shortages,” said Michael Quiaoit, Senior Director of Equity and Community Impact for FoundationCCC.

Napa Valley College was selected for its readiness to launch a Certified Wellness Coach pathway and its more than 20-year history of preparing students through its Addiction Studies degree program. Grant funding will support the development of a local Wellness Coaching certificate and completion of the remaining curriculum in wellness promotion and education and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution located in a medically underserved area with a high percentage of low-income residents, Napa Valley College is well positioned to prepare bilingual, Spanish-speaking students to support children, youth, and families in their communities. The college will build on established partnerships with the Napa County Office of Education Community Programs and the Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley.

Antelope Valley College will draw on its longstanding Psychology program and Psychology Associate Degree for Transfer to establish a Certified Wellness Coach pathway. The college will complete additional curriculum in student wellness planning and the commercial sexual exploitation of children to meet program requirements.

Located in a federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, the Hispanic-Serving Institution is positioned to broaden behavioral health support for Spanish-speaking communities in the Antelope Valley and Kern County. Partnerships with Antelope Valley Partners for Health and community mental health providers, including Behavioral Health Services, Inc., will help connect the pathway with regional workforce and community needs.

The Wellness Coach Designated Education Program advances the State Chancellor’s Vision 2030 goal of scaling behavioral and mental health workforce development to more community colleges throughout California. The program also serves as a critical entry point into the behavioral health workforce at the associate level. For many students, it provides a clear pathway to advanced education and licensure in mental health professions.

For a full list of participating colleges and future funding cycles, visit FoundationCCC’s program page.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges works to benefit students, colleges, and communities by accelerating paths to economic and social mobility, strengthening communities, and reducing barriers to opportunities for all Californians. FoundationCCC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1998. It serves as the official statewide nonprofit organization supporting the California Community Colleges, the largest system of higher education in the nation. For more information, visit www.foundationccc.org. 

The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is committed to expanding access to quality, equitable and affordable health care for all Californians—ensuring every community has the health workforce they need, safe and reliable health care facilities, and health information that can help make care more effective and affordable. Its Health Workforce Development program develops, supports, and expands a health workforce that serves medically underserved areas, represents the California it serves through racial and language diversity, and serves Medi-Cal members. It also offers programs that provide financial support to organizations expanding educational capacity, individuals to pursue health careers (scholarship and loan repayment), and organizations to build the workforce pipeline.