Senate panel advances Paula Wilhelm as DHCS deputy director for behavioral health after hearings on rural access, workforce and children’s services

The California State Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to advance Paula Wilhelm’s nomination to serve as deputy director for behavioral health at the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), following a hearing focused on rural access, workforce shortages and the state’s investments in children’s behavioral health.

Wilhelm, who described a background in behavioral health policy and personal experience with health challenges that influenced her career path, told the committee her priorities include expanding access statewide and supporting workforce development. “My primary goal as deputy director for behavioral health is to provide effective leadership for DHCS during a time of extraordinary change and opportunity,” Wilhelm said in her opening remarks.

Committee members from rural districts pressed Wilhelm on how the department will ensure infrastructure and services reach less-populated counties and tribal communities. Wilhelm said DHCS targeted outreach and technical assistance for bond-funded behavioral health infrastructure programs and that in recent rounds of behavioral health continuum infrastructure funding the department proactively sought additional applications from rural counties that had not previously been represented.

Senators asked about workforce strategies and services for children and youth. Wilhelm described the department’s children and youth behavioral health initiative, which funds school-based services, supports collaboration between schools and Medi-Cal managed care plans, and is rolling out a school-based fee schedule to help local education agencies bill for services directly. She also said DHCS is expanding paraprofessional roles — community health workers, wellness coaches and peers — as part of a broader workforce strategy while also pursuing longer-term measures to grow licensed-provider capacity.

Lawmakers questioned how state funding interacts with existing local projects and whether previously planned projects are ineligible for certain bond pools. Wilhelm acknowledged statutory program parameters and said DHCS aims to fund regional projects and provide technical assistance to expand the pool of eligible applicants.

The committee also discussed using Medi-Cal managed care to cover housing-related supports, community supports and short-term rent assistance tied to complex health needs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Wilhelm described covered community supports such as housing navigation, tenancy-sustaining services and a forthcoming option to cover up to six months of rent for certain high-need patients.

Supporters from advocacy groups and county behavioral health directors testified in favor of Wilhelm’s confirmation, citing her experience in behavioral health policy and collaboration with counties.

The committee’s unanimous roll-call vote advanced Wilhelm’s nomination to the full Senate.