RamaOnHealthcare April 13, 2024
Doing Better for Children, Youth, and Families
Today, RamaOnHealthcare talks with Autumn Boylan, MPH, Deputy Director of the California Department of Health Care Services, (DHCS) about what this historic program means for young people and their families in California. In January 2024, the California Department of Health Care Services announced the launch of its Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform, two free behavioral health services apps available for all families and caregivers with kids, teens, and young adults ages 0-25.
Autumn Boylan, MPH, Deputy Director of the California Department of Health Care Services, (DHCS)
RamaOnHealthcare (ROH): Congratulations to all those involved with this historic $4.6 billion investment in youth and family mental health support in California. Can you tell our readers more about California’s Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platforms?
Autumn Boylan (AB): Thank you. I feel very fortunate that our Administration is so focused on addressing the youth mental health crisis in California. Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a $4.7 billion investment aimed at reimagining the systems of support and a cornerstone of the Master Plan, represent an unprecedented investment that will go a long way to finding solutions for California’s young people. Built upon a foundation of equity and accessibility, the CYBHI is designed to meet young people and families where they are to create an ecosystem that can help them when, where, and in the ways they need it most.
…CYBHI is designed to meet young people and families where they are to create an ecosystem that can help them when, where, and in the ways they need it most.
As a part of this initiative, we launched the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platforms to provide digital mental health services and resources to children, youth, and families in California. The platforms are free to California residents and available regardless of background, location, health coverage, or economic status.
Because kids and young adults have different needs, the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform comprises two web and app-based applications:
- Developed by Brightline, BrightLife Kids is for parents or caregivers and kids ages 0-12.
- Soluna, developed by Kooth, is for teens and young adults ages 13-25.
ROH: What are the two apps and what services do they provide?
AB: Both apps offer access to free mental health services, including:
- Digital education and behavioral wellness support exercises.
- Stress-management tools.
- Assessments to monitor mental health over time.
- Moderated forums to connect users with other youth or caregivers.
- One-on-one coaching with qualified and trained behavioral health coaches delivered through video, in-app chat in English and Spanish, and via telephone coaching in all Medi-Cal threshold languages.
- A directory of trusted local health resources.
BrightLife Kids supports kids ages 0-12 and their families and caregivers with digital resources and expert coaches, equipping them to guide their kids more confidently through common challenges or life stages.
Soluna is a safe, confidential behavioral health and wellness app for Californians ages 13-25. Powered by Kooth Digital Health, Soluna removes barriers to behavioral health care by connecting young people with resources to support a variety of areas, including stress, anxiety, loneliness, bullying, and more.
…Soluna removes barriers to behavioral health care by connecting young people with resources to support a variety of areas….
ROH: The Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform is such welcome news for all Californians. Can you elaborate on the specific needs it is addressing?
AB: Rates of anxiety and depression among California youth have increased 70% since 2017. Roughly one-third of California adolescents suffered from severe psychological distress between 2019 and 2021, while suicides among that group increased by 20%. Meanwhile, the nationwide mental health provider shortage is causing longer wait times for appointments with community-based mental health providers. Availability is especially limited among the uninsured, people of color, people with low incomes, and people with disabilities. Tragically, this has resulted in about two-thirds of California kids with depression not receiving treatment and kids with moderate or temporary mental health issues being completely neglected.
Rates of anxiety and depression among California youth have increased 70% since 2017…. the nationwide mental health provider shortage is causing longer wait times….
The Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform is designed to alleviate this crisis by delivering an accessible, immediate, yet personalized support system focused on prevention and early intervention.
The Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform is designed to alleviate this crisis by delivering an accessible, immediate, yet personalized support system focused on prevention and early intervention..
ROH: What are the benefits of the apps for your respective age groups?
AB: Prevention and early intervention are critical to help ensure behavioral health issues do not escalate later in life. When issues remain unaddressed at a young age, they can have devastating and lasting impacts on a child’s well-being and growth. Since half of all mental health disorders start by age 14, it’s important to establish mental health and well-being at a young age.
For families of children up to age 12, BrightLife Kids provides parenting support to help address various behavioral challenges their kids may be facing. Some of the most common issues addressed for this age group include:
- Sleep, non-verbal communication, and tantrums.
- Relationship stress, organizational challenges, and self-esteem.
For youth and young adults ages 13-25, Soluna provides a critical new point of access to high-quality services to address their behavioral health challenges early on, reducing the likelihood of escalation to more serious conditions and alleviating pressure on existing mental healthcare providers.
…Soluna provides a critical new point of access to high-quality services to address their behavioral health challenges early on….
Some of the common issues addressed for this age group and services offered include:
- Stress management, social pressure, bullying, and others.
- Direct one-on-one coaching for adolescents and young adults.
ROH: What privacy and security measures are required to protect children and families’ information?
AB: DHCS takes safety and security very seriously. Both Soluna and BrightLife Kids must meet accessibility requirements and have strict privacy and confidentiality standards, adhering to all applicable state laws and regulations regarding privacy and security. Both apps follow robust safety and risk escalation protocols to ensure the safety of children, youth, and young adults. Trained behavioral health professionals monitor app usage to identify potential risks, and licensed behavioral health professionals are on standby for consultation and oversight to enable escalations when clinically appropriate. Soluna and BrightLife Kids will connect users to crisis or emergency services when needed.
Both apps follow robust safety and risk escalation protocols to ensure the safety of children, youth, and young adults.
ROH: How can those who are eligible access and download the apps?
AB: BrightLife Kids can be accessed through the Brightline app, which can be downloaded from the iOS App store and accessed through a web browser on a phone, desktop, or tablet.
Soluna is available for iOS and Android. For more information, visit https://solunaapp.com/.
About Ms. Boylan
Autumn Boylan M.P.H. (she/her/hers/they) is a recognized public health and Medicaid expert and Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Putting equity and access at the center of her leadership, she leads the development of two of the nation’s largest initiatives supporting systemic improvements in behavioral health: the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a $4.6B effort to re-imagine behavioral health access and outcomes for children and youth; and the CalAIM Justice-Involved (JI) Initiative, which seeks to improve coverage and continuity of health services to justice-involved individuals. Together, these initiatives represent an historic investment in the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable populations. With 16+ years of expertise in state health program delivery, Ms. Boylan is recognized for her ability to drive novel innovation and coordinate highly complex statewide partnerships at the intersections of Medicaid, public health, equity, education, justice, and more.
Ms. Boylan earned a Master of Public Health degree from Drexel University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University. In her spare time, she enjoys live music, reading a good novel, and bowling with friends. She lives in Sacramento, California with her partner and two children, who remind her daily that youth voice is essential to redesigning our behavioral health system.