Substance Abuse Prevention and Control

Workforce Development

DMC-ODS and CalAIM initiatives transformed the specialty SUD service system for Medi-Cal clients and continue to increase expectations for the workforce in the form of higher clinical, documentation, and outcome standards. SAPC has prioritized workforce development as a central component to advancing the SUD field. SAPC's Capacity Building funds are designed to ensure that staff are prepared to work with an increasingly complex patient population and a specialty SUD treatment environment where outcomes will be central to future reimbursement models.
  • LPHA SIGN-ON & RETENTION BONUS PAYMENTS
    LPHA Sign-On/Loyalty Bonus (1-A)
    Designed to support agency hiring and retention of qualified licensed and licensed-eligible practitioners Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Clinical Counselors, and Clinical Psychologists. Funds can be used as either sign-on bonuses for prospective staff or loyalty bonuses for new and current LPHA staff upon receipt of required documentation at a rate of $5,000 per eligible LPHA.
    LPHA Sign-On Retention Bonus Verification (1-B)
    Designed to support agency hiring and retention of qualified licensed and licensed-eligible Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Clinical Counselors, and Clinical Psychologists. Deliverable Based funds of additional $5,000 per eligible LPHA who previously received a Sign-On Bonus Payment (1-A) with verification of continued employment as an LPHA by 3/31/26 (one year of employment).
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
    Sustainability Plan Implementation Technical Assistance (TA) & Progress Report-25% (1-C) – only for agencies with an approved Sustainability Plan in FY 23-24
    Agency implementation of the Workforce Sustainability Plan approved in FY 23-24 that addresses long term workforce development, retention by incorporating enhanced compensation package. Technical Assistance (TA) is available and submission of Sustainability Plan monitoring report A and supporting documents is required for approval by SAPC.
    Sustainability Plan Implementation Technical Assistance (TA) & Progress Report-75% (1-D) – only for agencies with an approved Sustainability Plan in FY 23-24
    Agency implementation of the Workforce Sustainability Plan approved in FY 23-24 that addresses long term workforce development, retention by incorporating enhanced compensation package. Technical Assistance (TA) is available and updated and submission of Sustainability Plan monitoring report B with noted completion of goals and supporting documentation is required for approval by SAPC.
  • COUNSELOR EXPEDITED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
    Tuition/Paid Time Off (1-E)
    Opportunity supports registered SUD direct service counselors credentialed by DPH-SAPC (i.e., Sage Onboarding Completion) and employed as of April 1, 2023, to expedite completion of coursework/training hours including tuition/book costs and/or paid time off through Start-Up Funds of $2,500 per eligible staff with supporting documentation by 6/30/25 to avoid recoupment.
    Certification Obtained (1-F)
    Opportunity supports registered counselors supported under Tuition/Paid Time Off (1-E) who passed the certification exam between 7/1/23 and 6/30/25. Counselors must be employed as of 4/1/23, not participating in TIP and credentialed by DPH-SAPC (i.e., Sage Onboarding and did not receive funding under this category in FY 2023-2024). Verification of expenditures/certifications are required.
  • MEDICATION FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT (MAT) PRESCRIBING CLINICIAN
    Approved Implementation Plan/Addendum (1-G)
    Cost sharing opportunity to recruit, retain, and utilize medical clinicians, as members of the agency treatment team to provide medication services- also known as medication for addiction treatment (MAT)- directly to patients served by SAPC contracted agencies and paid via claims to SAPC. Providers without an implementation plan approved prior to 9/1/24 should submit an initial implementation plan; Providers with an approved implementation plan prior to 9/1/24 who are ready to expand the number of prescribing clinician hours beyond the original approval plan should submit an addendum. Submissions for either the plan or addendum with invoice required by 3/31/25.
    Clinician Staffing and Verified Hours (1-H)
    Up to 25% of funds disbursed Year 2 per 40 hours per week of prescribing clinician services. Requires Quarterly implementation updates and verification of addiction medication (MAT) prescribing clinician staffing.
  • IMPROVING WORKFORCE LANGUAGE ACCESS EFFORTS
    Approved Language Assistance Plan (New) (1-I)
    Development and implementation Language Assistance Plan (LAP) and recruiting, retaining a strong and effective bilingual/multilingual workforce so that people with limited English proficiency or who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to SUD benefits. Start Up Funds by 9/15/24 with viable Language Assistance Service Plan by 3/31/25 to avoid recoupment.
    Bilingual Bonus for Certificated Proficient Direct Service Staff (New) (I-J)
    Designed to support provider efforts to recruit and retain bilingual direct service staff in efforts to increase language matching, which has been demonstrated to improve patient engagement and retention of services. Language proficiency determined via standardized language proficiency exam certificate. (Submission Form includes Invoice required for payment.)
 
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
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