California Health and Human Services leaders, including Secretary Kim Johnson, Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass, and Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Mary Watanabe released the following joint statement:  California has long championed vaccination as a cornerstone …

Joint Statement from California Health and Human Services Leaders on Vaccine Access and Availability Read More »

Esperanza and her daughter, Scarlett, have an inspiring story to tell. A year ago, the family child care home they ran in Altadena was destroyed by the Eaton fire. Today, at their new home in Pasadena, they are back up and running, once again providing a vital service to local families. “A year ago at …

A Year After the Fires, LA Child Care Community on the Road to Recovery Read More »

Statement from CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson One year ago, the Eaton, Palisades and other southern California fires forever changed lives, neighborhoods, and communities. We remember those we lost, the families who lost homes, the children whose schools were disrupted, the older adults and people with disabilities who faced unique challenges, and the frontline workers and …

One Year After the Los Angeles Fires: Progress, Resilience, and Our Ongoing Commitment Read More »

In response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it would move to restrict access to health care for transgender Californians, leaders of the California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS)—including CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass, Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Mary Watanabe, and Department of …

Joint Statement from California Health & Human Services Leaders on Federal Government’s Attack on Health Care for Transgender Americans Read More »

What you need to know: In stark contrast to the Trump administration’s war on the LGBTQ community, more than 1,000 crisis counselors will be offered new training to support LGBTQ youth across the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline centers. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the state’s partnership with The Trevor Project to further …

As Donald Trump attempts to restrict health care for LGBTQ youth, California partners with The Trevor Project to launch statewide suicide prevention training for 988 crisis counselors Read More »

The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and Youth Creating Change are partnering to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men Sacramento, Calif. – As California continues to ensure access to support boys and young men who are facing serious mental health crises, today the Children …

California launches mental health media challenge to support boys and young men Read More »

State Reimbursement Program Builds on Positive Early Results with New Resources SACRAMENTO — California schools have long worked to meet student mental health needs, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is supporting these efforts through a new sustainable funding program that is already showing promising results. Through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health …

ICYMI: Innovative Model Helps Schools Sustain Mental Health Services Read More »

COMPTON, CA – California Secretary of Labor Stewart Knox and California Secretary of Health & Human Services Kim Johnson visited the EMS Corpsopens in a new window program in Compton at the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) Center for Sustainable Communities to highlight the state’s investment in innovative job training that connects young Californians to careers in healthcare and …

State Leaders Spotlight EMS Corps in Compton, a Model for Equitable Workforce Pathways Read More »

Earlier this year, the Republican majority in Congress and President Trump enacted H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act or OBBBA). California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) leadership provide an update on the latest efforts to address the bill’s impacts on safety-net programs in California. The session also gives an update on the …

CalHHS Connect: Updates on HR 1 Efforts in California and the Rural Health Transformation Opportunity Read More »

SACRAMENTO – As the first and only state contracting for its own affordable insulin, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that CalRx® biosimilar insulin glargine pens will be available to consumers in California beginning January 1, 2026. This launch marks a significant step in the state’s ongoing effort to lower prescription drug prices and improve medication access …

Governor Newsom announces affordable CalRx® insulin, $11 a pen, will soon be available for purchase Read More »

Los Angeles — Key state partners joined together as California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin, California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) Secretary Kim Johnson and other state and local leaders unveiled a new statewide initiative to reduce severe traffic crashes in California’s highest-risk areas. The program launches with a new statewide policy on road safety and …

California Launches Data-Driven Road Safety Initiative to Save Lives Read More »

What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1264, a first-in-the-nation law phasing out the most concerning ultra-processed foods from California schools LOS ANGELES – Building on California’s long-standing leadership to protect children’s health and set higher nutrition standards — from his signature on laws banning dangerous food dyes and chemicals to implementing …

ICYMI: Governor Newsom signs first-in-the-nation law to ban ultra-processed foods from school lunches Read More »