CA AB1970

Requires the Department of Health Care Access and Information to develop criteria and specialized training requirements for a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification specialty certificate program, subject to legislative appropriation.

Training program shall include comprehensive instruction in mental health resources, crisis intervention for nonemergency cases, navigation support, and culturally specific practices for connecting individuals to mental health professionals and wellness services.

Department may engage community-based organizations with expertise in Black mental health and wellness to advise on or develop the certification criteria.

Requires the department to solicit stakeholder feedback on the certification criteria.

Department must collect and publish data annually on the number of individuals certified by certificate type and demographic information, and the number actively employed as community health workers, without disclosing personal identifying information.