Keith Eric Van Wagner

This Final Plan outlines the California Department of Public Health's strategic approach to implement Behavioral Health Transformation. It integrates statutory requirements, stakeholder input, and operational components. Key areas of focus include establishing a Center for Social and Behavioral Health, prioritizing investments for at-risk populations (Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern populations; Children, youth, and families; Immigrant and refugee populations; LGBTQIA+ populations; Older adults; People with Intellectual and Development Disabilities; Tribes; and Veterans), and deploying statewide prevention strategies such as policy initiatives, awareness campaigns, training, community engagement, and evaluation. The plan also details funding mechanisms to mobilize local implementation through Community-Based Organizations, Tribes, and Local Health Jurisdictions. The overall aim is to ensure comprehensive, effective interventions and foster strong coordination and systems change at both state and local levels.

This plan aims to achieve health equity by eliminating commercial tobacco and nicotine use in California. It focuses on ending the commercial tobacco epidemic by fighting industry influence and reducing tobacco-related health disparities. Key objectives include reducing tobacco-related disparities, building capacity to end the epidemic, addressing the evolving tobacco product landscape, protecting youth and young adults from tobacco, promoting smokefree environments, reducing tobacco product waste, promoting tobacco cessation, and countering the tobacco and cannabis industries. The overarching vision is a commercial tobacco-free California where communities are not disproportionately impacted and individuals are free from tobacco-related diseases and addiction.

This document outlines a strategic plan for achieving health equity by combating commercial tobacco and nicotine use for the 2025-2026 period. It provides recommendations focusing on administrative arrangements, funding priorities, and the integration and coordination of approaches among key California agencies. The plan emphasizes increasing state funding for tobacco prevention and fostering enhanced collaboration between the California Department of Public Health, the California Department of Education, and the University of California Office of the President to update strategies and ensure collective impact.

This document outlines the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Prevention Program Plan, focusing on the implementation of Community-Defined Evidence-Based Practices (CDEP) and Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) within the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Statewide Population-Based Prevention Program. The plan's strategic direction involves distributing funds to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Tribal entities to scale these practices, with an emphasis on racial equity, sustainability, and expanding access to behavioral health prevention and resilience for populations at greatest risk. Key objectives include addressing mental health and substance use disorder prevention, reducing stigma, and serving populations disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and discrimination. The overall plan covers strategies for Fiscal Years 2026-2028.

This Strategic Plan outlines department-wide collaborative initiatives to transform public health foundations. The plan envisions the organization becoming a learning, healing, and impactful entity, committed to continuous improvement, preventing harm, promoting healing, and delivering trustworthy results. Guided by three strategic pillars, the plan aims to advance the health and well-being of California's diverse people and communities, ultimately fostering healthy communities with thriving families and individuals.