Groundbreaking White Paper on Behavioral Health Equity in California Published in Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 SACRAMENTO — The California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives (CAADPE) is proud to announce the publication of a white paper titled "Enhancing Access to Behavioral Health Services for Groups That Have Been Historically Marginalized in California: Executives’ Views and Recommendations" in the Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy, a leading peer-reviewed journal published by AME Publishing Company. 

 This white paper is a product of the Health Equity in Access to Behavioral Health Recovery Services (HEAR US) initiative— a statewide project funded by the California Department of Health Care Services and managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation. HEAR US aims to implement actionable strategies that improve access to and equity of care for underserved communities experiencing severe mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders (SUD). 

 Led by principal investigator Dr. Erick Guerrero and co-authored by experts from Research to End Healthcare Disparities Corp, Texas A&M University, the University of Louisville, and CAADPE, the study reflects the voices of executive leaders from across California’s SUD provider landscape. The qualitative research highlights community-driven recommendations to advance culturally responsive care, payment reform, and systems coordination across behavioral health services. 

“At The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, we believe that equitable access to behavioral health care is a fundamental right,” said Nilda Valmores, Senior Program Officer at The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, which manages the HEAR US Behavioral Health Recovery Services Project with funding from the California Department of Health Care Services. “The HEAR US project reflects our commitment to uplifting community wisdom and the dismantling of systems that produce inequities. This publication is a testament to what is possible when we center lived experience, trust local leadership and invest in culturally responsive solutions.” 

 Key findings include: 

• The urgent need for culturally responsive policies and practices that reflect the lived realities of diverse communities; 

• The importance of sustainable funding and payment reforms to remove structural barriers to access; 

• The critical role of workforce investment, including livable wages and peer support integration; 

• The need for intentional, cross-system coordination to expand access to SUD recovery services for historically marginalized communities in California; 

• A call for multi-sector collaboration to ensure a holistic, person-centered continuum of care. 

“This publication is more than a white paper—it’s a call to action,” said Robb Layne, Executive Director of CAADPE. “HEAR US reflects a shared vision across California’s behavioral health leaders for a more equitable, person-led recovery system. We are proud to lift up the voices of those closest to the work.” 

 The full article is now available online via open access HERE. 

 About HEAR US

HEAR US (Health Equity in Access to Behavioral Health Recovery Services) is a DHCS-funded initiative focused on breaking down barriers to care, building a culturally responsive workforce, fostering person-led recovery, and elevating community voice. Through technical assistance and local implementation partnerships, HEAR US drives systems change in behavioral health recovery services across California. 

 About CAADPE

The California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives (CAADPE) is the leading voice for community-based substance use disorder treatment providers in California. CAADPE supports its members through advocacy, education, and strategic initiatives that advance access, quality, and equity in behavioral health care. 

Media Contact

Max Geide
Senior Manager of Membership & Communication Strategy
ma*@****pe.org