On August 7, the Orange County Register quoted Carmen Katsarov, LPCC, CCM, CalOptima Health Executive Director of Behavioral Health Integration, on our collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education on a $25.5 million grant to address the county’s student mental health needs through the state’s Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP). “Our children are facing unprecedented levels of stressors, and the need for timely and effective mental health support has never been greater,” said Katsarov.

On August 8, KNX Radio interviewed Natalie Zavala, LMFT, CalOptima Health Director of Behavioral Health Integration, on the impact of SBHIP, which will fund all 29 Orange County school districts to help with behavioral, emotional or mental health services. “CalOptima Health has worked collaboratively with the Orange County Department of Education and the school districts to ensure this funding results in programs that are tailored to the behavioral health needs and service gaps at each school district,” said Zavala, adding that no school is the same, but the need is equally important.

In recognition of National Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Month in September, CalOptima Health is celebrating our PACE program in Garden Grove’s 10 anniversary. CalOptima Health PACE helps older adults ages 55 and older live independently at home, receive personalized health care and remain active in the community. We’re proud of our PACE program’s many milestones over the years, including: 

• 2013 — CalOptima Health opened Orange County’s first PACE Center.
• 2015 — CalOptima Health PACE enrolled its 100th participant.
• 2019 — CalOptima Health PACE earned a No. 1 participant satisfaction score in California from Vital Research’s survey.
• 2020–22 — CalOptima Health PACE launched “PACE Without Walls” to provide most services and telehealth in a participant’s home during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the program returned to pre-pandemic capacity, it was serving more than 400 participants, with high COVID-19 vaccination rates among eligible participants, surpassing program goals.
• 2023 — CalOptima Health PACE celebrates 10 years of proudly serving more than 1,000 of Orange County’s older adult population throughout its program history.

Fall is a great time for members to check in with their doctor to make sure they are up to date on their needed tests and vaccines. 

People should still visit a doctor even if they do not feel sick, which is why CalOptima Health encourages you to remind members of the importance of receiving routine care. A doctor can find health problems early before they become too serious. These visits can also help manage long-term health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. 

Members can take charge of their health by staying current on well-care visits, screenings and vaccines. If members are due for any of these services, they can call their doctor now to make an appointment. Remind members to talk with their doctor about what care is right for them.

Members can ask their doctor about these services: 

Health care is undergoing an exciting transformation that requires new ways of working, learning, and strategizing together. This conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share ideas and successful models to explore how community health workers can advance health equity.

Advance OC invites you to take part in this wonderful opportunity to engage with systems leaders, employers, practitioners, clinicians, community-based organizations and key leaders to design and create a vision for community health and the role community health workers play in bridging systems, health care and community. Join us in exploring the new Medi-Cal workforce opportunities and how this new workforce can help develop better systems of care and improve health outcomes in communities. 

The Healthcare Everywhere: The Rise of Community Healthworkers conference will be held on September 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Orange Coast College. It will feature diverse stakeholders and expert speakers discussing the new Medi-Cal workforce highlighting community health workers/promotoras/representatives, peer support specialists and doulas. Register here soon because space is limited.

You’re invited to join a webinar from the Center for Health Care Strategies on September 11, Noon–1 p.m., to learn how Illumination Foundation, CalOptima Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) are partnering to more smoothly transition people experiencing homelessness from medical respite care into permanent housing. The session will highlight their partnership approach, challenges they encountered and how they navigated them, and the program’s impact to date. Speakers will include: 

• Jordan Hoiberg, Illumination Foundation Interim Director of Housing Services
• Danielle Cameron, MPH, CalOptima Health Director of CalAIM
• Brian Green, Ph.D., HCA Administrative Manager 

Register for the webinar here.