State budget funds $5M Central Coast behavioral health pilot through CenCal
Issue
California's 2026-27 budget gives CenCal Health and the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county behavioral health departments a one-time $5 million for a pilot on severe schizophrenia and anosognosia, the Santa Barbara Independent reported. It funds Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner training, crisis response and emergency treatment access.
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast may find a referral partner in it.
Key points
- The one-time $5 million pilot runs through CenCal Health, a Medi-Cal plan, and the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county behavioral health departments.
- It funds Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner training, family support, crisis response and emergency treatment, and may give Central Coast FQHC teams a referral partner.
Sources for this story
Santa Barbara IndependentPart of
- California's budget, the health plan (MCO) tax and Proposition 35
The annual budget
- Behavioral-health integration and capacity
Capital projects and grants
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More in Funding & Budget
FQHC Talent. (2026, July 2). State budget funds $5M Central Coast behavioral health pilot through CenCal. Source: Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/cencal-central-coast-behavioral-health-pilot-july-2026