Behavioral Health Commission launches $20 million innovation RFA and seeks grant deadline extensions for youth centers
April 30, 2026 | California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California
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The Commission for Behavioral Health told the subcommittee it is shifting innovation from county‑level pilots to a statewide approach under the Behavioral Health Services Act.
"The Fund offers two distinct grant categories: small grants for community‑based organizations under $500,000 and large grants between $500,000 and $5,000,000," Executive Officer Brenda Greilish said, noting more than 400 questions and two bidders conferences that drew over 1,000 participants after the March 20 request for applications. Applications for the first $20 million are due May 8 with awards expected in mid‑June and contracts to align with BHSA implementation on July 1.
Greilish also outlined a request to extend the liquidation deadline for All Cove youth drop‑in grants and reallocate up to $4,062,000 in remaining one‑time BHSA funds so delayed sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the independent evaluation before funds revert on June 30, 2026.
Why it matters: the IPF aims to test and scale promising models that address BHSA priority populations — people at risk of homelessness, institutionalization, conservatorship, justice‑system involvement or child welfare involvement — while the All Cove extension protects recent investments in youth centers that have faced staffing and site development delays.
Next steps: the commission will award IPF grants after application deadlines and the subcommittee held the All Cove extension request open.
"The Fund offers two distinct grant categories: small grants for community‑based organizations under $500,000 and large grants between $500,000 and $5,000,000," Executive Officer Brenda Greilish said, noting more than 400 questions and two bidders conferences that drew over 1,000 participants after the March 20 request for applications. Applications for the first $20 million are due May 8 with awards expected in mid‑June and contracts to align with BHSA implementation on July 1.
Greilish also outlined a request to extend the liquidation deadline for All Cove youth drop‑in grants and reallocate up to $4,062,000 in remaining one‑time BHSA funds so delayed sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the independent evaluation before funds revert on June 30, 2026.
Why it matters: the IPF aims to test and scale promising models that address BHSA priority populations — people at risk of homelessness, institutionalization, conservatorship, justice‑system involvement or child welfare involvement — while the All Cove extension protects recent investments in youth centers that have faced staffing and site development delays.
Next steps: the commission will award IPF grants after application deadlines and the subcommittee held the All Cove extension request open.
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