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LifeSTEPS Awarded Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Grant

Funds will be used to expand and establish Medi-Cal Enhanced Care Management and Community Support services in Los Angeles County 

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has announced a grant award of $1,869,064 to Life Skills Training & Educational Programs (LifeSTEPS) as part of the statewide initiative of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM).

In January 2023, DHCS announced an award of $119 million in total funding to help local organizations build capacity and infrastructure in Medi-Cal’s delivery system. These funds will support California’s long-term commitment to transform and strengthen Medi-Cal, offering Californians a more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered approach. DCHS awarded 98 organizations, LifeSTEPS being one of the recipients, through Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Initiative Round 1A.

The PATH program is comprised of multiple aligned initiatives that will provide funding, tools, technical support, and resources to Medi-Cal providers, including community-based organizations (CBOs), counties, Tribes, local governmental entities, and other community partners to support a smooth transition to CalAIM.

LifeSTEPS is pleased to be one of the 98 recipients of the statewide award. This grant will enable the transition, expansion, and development of LifeSTEPS’ Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports capacity and infrastructure of existing programs and future expansions in Los Angeles County. LifeSTEPS is coordinating with organizations they contract with and intends to contract with other organizations such as L.A. Care to continue providing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Support Services (CM) in Los Angeles County.

“This is an example of the leadership in California helping with the expansion of services to the most vulnerable and supporting small non-profits growth. Saving health dollars by supporting health education, housing, and intensive case management to the most vulnerable saves millions,” said Beth Southorn, LifeSTEPS Executive Director.

“We have seen first-hand how health intervention on the front lines changes lives by restoring health connections, reducing hospitalizations and restoring hope through relationship reunification,” said Beth. “Though chronic homeless might look a certain way while living on the streets… the life blood of housing stability, intensive case management and health restoration returns that same individual into productive individuals in service to others.”

LifeSTEPS has accepted the responsibility to carefully manage PATH Cited funds with the goal being quality services to benefit our clients and program sustainability in collaboration with our managed care plan partners.

For more information about LifeSTEPS programs and services provided in California, please visit https://lifestepsusa.org/programs-services/.

DHCS. “Department of Health Care Services announces $119 million in award notices to advance its vision of a whole system, person-centered approach to care.” DHCS Press Release, 31 Jan. 2023. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/publications/oc/Documents/2023/23-03-CITED-Round-1-Award-1-31-23.pdf. PDF download.