School-Based Health and Wellness Services and CYBHI

The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a California state program designed to make mental health and emotional support services easier to access for students. Through CYBHI, public schools (TK–12 districts, colleges, and universities) can be reimbursed by health insurance plans for certain behavioral health services provided to students under age 26.

The goal is simple: Keep mental health services available at school, free to families, and financially sustainable long term.

•     Support for stress, anxiety, or depression
•     Emotional or behavioral challenges
•     Substance use concerns
•     Mental health support
•     Counseling or therapy
•     Screening and assessment
•     Care coordination
•     In some cases, services involving both student and caregiver

No. State law requires that families cannot be charged for these services.

You will:

•     Not receive a bill
•     Not pay a co-pay
•     Not pay a deductible
•     Not have any out-of-pocket cost

These services remain free to families.

No. Receiving these services at school:

•     Does not reduce your child’s insurance benefits
•     Does not impact outside providers
•     Does not change your eligibility
•     Does not affect your annual limits

The insurance plan reimburses the school directly. It does not change your plan or coverage.

The State of California now requires health plans (including Medi-Cal and commercial insurance) to reimburse schools for certain behavioral health activity.

In order to receive that reimbursement, the school must:

•     Collect insurance information, and
•     Obtain parent/guardian consent to bill insurance

Without insurance information, the school cannot access this funding source.

Your child still has access to all the supports on campus at no cost. However, if insurance information is not provided:

•     The school cannot bill the health plan and will lose access to this funding stream
•     This may negatively impact the amount of supports and services available

Parent participation helps sustain services for all students.

No. This applies to students under age 26 who have:

•     Medi-Cal (fee-for-service or managed care)
•     Commercial health insurance
•     Disability insurance

If your child has insurance coverage, the school may request that information.

Yes. Your child’s information is protected by:

•     FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
•     HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
•     California state privacy laws

Insurance information is used only for billing and reimbursement purposes.

It is not shared with:

•     Immigration agencies
•     Law enforcement (unless required by law)
•     Outside organizations unrelated to billing

Schools and their billing partners are required to follow strict confidentiality rules.

The State contracts with a third-party administrator to support claims processing for CYBHI. Schools submit claims in accordance with state guidelines and approved billing codes. Health plans reimburse schools directly. Families are not involved in the billing process beyond providing consent and insurance information.

No. If your child receives services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP):

•     Those services remain guaranteed under federal law (IDEA).
•     Your decision to provide or not provide insurance information does not affect eligibility.

Schools across California already provide mental health and wellness services. However, funding for these services has historically relied on temporary grants or limited district budgets.

The CYBHI Fee Schedule program:

•     Creates a consistent reimbursement structure
•     Allows schools to bill insurance plans at set statewide rates
•     Expands eligible provider types (including credentialed school mental health staff)
•     Simplifies billing
•     Increases financial stability for student support services

This helps schools maintain counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.

No. There is no impact on insurance benefits, eligibility, or cost. Health plans are required under state law to reimburse schools without any impact or cost to parents.

No. Students may receive services for many reasons, including:

•     Preventative support
•     Skill-building
•     Short-term counseling
•     Stress management

Receiving services does not automatically mean your child has a diagnosis.

Students may still receive services at school.

If your family needs insurance coverage, you may explore eligibility for Medi-Cal at:

•     medi-cal.ca.gov

School social workers can also help connect families with resources.

You are asked to:

•     Sign a consent form
•     Provide insurance information, such as: health plan name, policy number, policyholder name

•     Mental and behavioral health services at school remain free.
•      Families are never billed.
•     Coverage and benefits are not affected.
•     Information is protected by law.
•     Sharing insurance information helps schools sustain and expand services.

Every student deserves access to emotional and mental health support in a safe, familiar setting.

If you have questions:

•     Contact your school administrator or district office.
•     Visit the California Department of Health Care Services CYBHI page at: dhcs.ca.gov/CYBHI
•     Email: [email protected]

We are committed to transparency and to ensuring families feel informed and respected in this process.