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(a) As a component of the initiative, the State Department of Health Care Services, or its contracted vendor, may award competitive grants to entities it deems qualified for the following purposes:
(1) To build partnerships, capacity, and infrastructure supporting ongoing school-linked behavioral health services for children and youth 25 years of age and younger.
(2) To expand access to licensed medical and behavioral health professionals, counselors, peer support specialists, community health workers, and certified wellness coaches serving children and youth.
(3) To build a statewide, community-based organization provider network for behavioral health prevention and treatment services for children and youth, including those attending institutions of higher education.
(4) To enhance coordination and partnerships with respect to behavioral health prevention and treatment services for children and youth via appropriate data sharing systems.
(b) Subject to subdivision (c), entities eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section may include counties, city mental health authorities, tribal entities, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, publicly funded childcare and preschools, health care service plans, community-based organizations, and behavioral health providers.
(c) The department shall determine the eligibility criteria, grant application process, and methodology for the distribution of funds appropriated for the purposes described in this section to those entities it deems qualified.
(d) The department shall ensure that grant distribution includes, but is not limited to, rural, urban, and suburban regions and geographic distribution among different age cohorts. Allowable activities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Addressing behavioral health disparities while providing linguistically and culturally competent services for children and youth who lack access to adequate behavioral health services or otherwise are difficult to reach.
(2) Supporting administrative costs, including planning, project management, training, and technical assistance.
(3) Linking plans, counties, and school districts with local social services and community-based organizations.
(4) Implementing telehealth equipment and virtual systems in schools or near schools.
(5) Implementing data-sharing tools, information technology interfaces, or other technology investments designed to connect to behavioral health services.
(e) Of the funds appropriated for purposes of this section to institutions of higher education, at least two-thirds shall be reserved for California Community Colleges.
(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Comprehensive risk contract” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 438.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) “Health care service plan” has the same meaning as described in subdivision (f) of Section 1345 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) “Institution of higher education” means the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California.
(4) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, the California Schools for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind.
(5) “Tribal entity” means a federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization.