California DHCS Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program 2026

DHCS is offering $17 million for approximately 20 to 30 Medi-Cal pediatric primary-care organizations to build and scale dyadic behavioral health services, with fixed awards of $500,000 or $700,000 based on pediatric Medi-Cal volume.

Funding$17,000,000 total; Tier 1 fixed award $700,000 for service locations serving at least 1,000 Medi-Cal children ages 0-5; Tier 2 fixed award $500,000 for service locations serving at least 500 Medi-Cal children ages 0-5

DeadlineOctober 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (current DHCS program page specifies PDT)

Last verifiedSeptember 30, 2026

Required next actionConfirm the applicant is an eligible Medi-Cal organization operating a pediatric or family primary-care setting and meets the applicable Tier 1 or Tier 2 pediatric Medi-Cal volume threshold. Prepare the required leadership support, DHCS budget template, staffing plan and narrative, resumes or CVs, organization chart, audited financial statement, W-9, and any applicable federally approved indirect-cost-rate documentation. Submit by October 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Broad Eligibility

Legal entities operating Medi-Cal-enrolled pediatric or family primary care settings may apply, including FQHCs, rural health clinics, Indian Health Care Providers, hospital-affiliated systems, and other community-based organizations operating Medi-Cal-enrolled primary care clinics. Tier 1 requires at least 1,000 Medi-Cal children ages 0-5 served; Tier 2 requires at least 500.

Atlas Analysis

The California Department of Health Care Services released the Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program Request for Applications on September 15, 2026. The two-year statewide program supports eligible Medi-Cal provider organizations in building the clinical, operational, workforce, and billing infrastructure needed to deliver and sustain dyadic behavioral health services for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers.

DHCS has allocated $17 million and expects approximately 20 to 30 awards. Tier 1 applicants serving at least 1,000 Medi-Cal children ages 0 to 5 may receive a fixed $700,000 award, while Tier 2 applicants serving at least 500 Medi-Cal children ages 0 to 5 may receive a fixed $500,000 award. The grant period is expected to run from April 2027 through March 2029, with payments tied to upfront and milestone or performance-based components.

Eligible applicants include legal entities operating Medi-Cal-enrolled pediatric or family primary care settings, including FQHCs, rural health clinics, Indian Health Care Providers, hospital-affiliated systems, and other community-based organizations operating Medi-Cal-enrolled primary care clinics. Official DHCS materials currently conflict on the exact application closing time: the downloadable RFA states October 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT, while the current DHCS program page states October 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Because the exact closing time remains inconsistent across authoritative state sources, Atlas treats the deadline as unresolved and holds new cold applicant outreach until DHCS issues a formal clarification or corrected notice. Required application elements include organizational and provider information, an executive leadership letter of support, the DHCS budget template, a provider survey, a dyadic services approach, staffing information, an attestation, and supporting documents such as key staff resumes or CVs, an organizational chart, audited financial statements, and a W-9. DHCS scores Provider Equity, Implementation Readiness, Program Impact, Strategic Alignment, and County Composite Index at 20 percent each, with an additional workforce development incentive available.

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