Who We Are

For three decades, the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS) has been a cornerstone of the state’s mental health and substance use disorder systems. We serve as a strategic bridge between visionary policy and real-world application and results, specializing in the science of implementation and the delivery of equitable care rooted evidence-based practices and community voices. From our Sacramento headquarters to our distributed project teams in Los Angeles and throughout California’s diverse regions, we transform complex systemic challenges into practical, sustainable solutions. Our work is not just about identifying what works; it is about building the capacity of systems and people to deliver quality care consistently.

CIBHS is proud to lead the evolution of behavioral health by delivering high-impact training, technical assistance, and systems transformation grounded in clinical rigor and lived experience. By integrating evidence-based excellence with community-led expertise, we ensure that every project—from state-level initiatives to practitioner-focused workshops—builds generative equity and a legacy of care. At CIBHS, we are committed to strengthening the workforce and the infrastructure of care, ensuring that the progress we spark today becomes a permanent asset for the communities of tomorrow.

In 2014, CIMH merged with the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy Institute (ADPI) to form the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS), creating a unified organization designed to meet the growing demand for integrated mental health and substance use solutions across California. This merger mirrored the unification of the County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators Association of California (CADPAAC) and the California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA) into the California Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA).

Throughout our history, CIBHS has worked side by side with communities and within the behavioral health system to co-design solutions that reflect local voices, remove barriers, and improve outcomes for those most impacted. At a systems level, this has included helping establish Children’s Systems of Care, supporting the adoption of evidence-based practices, leading flagship implementation strategies through the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN), and most recently serving as third-party administrator for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Scaling Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) and Community-Defined Evidence Practices (CDEPs) Project.

Today, CIBHS serves as a vital catalyst for change in California’s evolving behavioral health ecosystem. With deep expertise in both clinical evidence-based practices and community-defined innovations, CIBHS bridges these two worlds by delivering practical, equitable solutions that help communities, individuals, and behavioral health organizations across California thrive.