The Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI) told prospective applicants Sept. 3 that applications for the Health Careers Exploration Program (HSEP) must be submitted by Oct. 17 at 3 p.m., and that awards will be announced in early January 2026.

HCAI’s grants management section chief Wahida Nawad said the grants are one-year agreements with a February 2026 start date and an expected end date in January 2027. “Our vision is a healthier California where all receive equitable, affordable, and quality health care,” Nawad said while summarizing the program’s purpose.

The HSEP supports activities that encourage underrepresented and disadvantaged individuals to pursue health careers, citing Health and Safety Code Section 127,885 as the statutory authority for the program. HCAI described two award categories: Category A for conferences and workshops and Category B for hands-on experiences.

Category A awards are listed at $12,000 or $20,000; Category B awards are $15,000 or $25,000. To qualify for the larger award in either category, HCAI said at least 50% of program activity must focus on behavioral health or caring for older adults. Category A requires a minimum of 100 participants; Category B requires a minimum of 50 participants.

Elvira Sanchez, the HSEP program officer, summarized organizational eligibility: HCAI accepts applications only from public and private nonprofit organizations located in California; individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Sanchez warned that HCAI will validate nonprofit status with the IRS and may reject applications that contain false or misleading information.

Clinton Ramson, program manager, explained the 50% specialization rule: “If you have 50% of the training taking place in behavioral health or caring for older adults or a combination of those two that equals 50%...that’s just to give your score a little turbo boost.”

HCAI detailed administrative requirements applicants must meet if awarded: grantees must provide a current STD 204 payee data record; the State Controller’s Office will mail a paper check to the grantee address on file; grant documents will be executed via DocuSign; and grantees who refuse to sign by the deadline may forfeit awards. HCAI said it will not consider extensions to the required grant-signing deadline and reserves the right to recover funds if grantees fail to perform grant obligations.

For questions, presenters directed applicants to the webinar chat and to the program inbox (as posted in the webinar chat). The agency said slides and a recording will be posted within seven to 10 business days.

What applicants should do now: begin the application early, confirm nonprofit status and exact payee address, and plan events to conclude within the one-year grant term so final reports can be submitted before the grant expiration.