Provider Workforce Development

CalOptima Health is improving access to high-quality care by addressing gaps in Orange County’s health care workforce. With a $50 million investment over five years, this initiative focuses on education, training, recruitment and retention to meet the needs of our diverse community. Through these efforts, CalOptima Health ensures equitable care for all Medi-Cal members in Orange County.

Funding Opportunity

A pediatrician interacts with a child in a bright consultation room, using a stethoscope in a caring and friendly manner.

Read the Press Release

Provider Workforce Development Grants

Supporting Orange County’s Health Care Future

We are committed to building a stronger health care system by creating new opportunities for health care professionals. These efforts include:

Competitive Grants: Two rounds of grants will support education, training and retention of health care professionals. The first round focuses on increasing the number of professionals. The second round funds innovative solutions to improve training and development.
Physician Recruitment and Loan Repayment Programs: CalOptima Health is launching programs to recruit doctors and provide loan repayment to encourage long-term service in Orange County.
Stakeholder Collaboration: A Health Care Provider Workforce Development Collaborative will bring together health leaders to share ideas and find solutions for workforce challenges.

A diverse group of individuals holding a large check for $5 million from CalOptima Health for Concordia University, Irvine.

Prior Funding Opportunities

Round 1: Educational Investments to Increase Supply of Health Care Professionals (April 2024)

CalOptima Health Awards $25 Million in Workforce Education Grants

CalOptima Health’s Board of Directors has approved nearly $25 million in workforce education grants to seven institutions in Orange County. These grants mark the first phase of the $50 million Provider Workforce Development Initiative, the largest workforce grant ever awarded by CalOptima Health. The initiative will help to address health disparities and better secure the future delivery of medical and behavioral health care by safety net providers. It also seeks to ease predicted shortages and gaps in the Orange County health care workforce that serves the Medi-Cal population.

Orange County-based institutions receiving grant awards in the first phase of funding are as follows:

California State University, Fullerton
Chapman University
Coast Community College District
Concordia University Irvine
Orange County United Way
Santiago Canyon College
University of California, Irvine, Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing

Round 2: Workforce Training and Development Innovation Fund (November 2024)

CalOptima Health Awards $5.1 Million to Strengthen Behavioral Health Workforce

To better support members experiencing mental health challenges, CalOptima Health’s Board of Directors has awarded $5.1 million in grant funding to increase the behavioral health workforce as part of our ongoing Provider Workforce Development Initiative.

Six organizations will receive funding to help address critical behavioral health workforce shortages by providing upskilling, training, and development opportunities to health professionals who serve Medi-Cal members in Orange County. These programs will aim to increase capacity in behavioral health care to improve access to essential behavioral health services over the next five years. The grantees for this second round of funding are as follows:

Child Guidance Center Inc.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County
John Henry Foundation
Seneca Family of Agencies
Special Service for Groups Inc.
Western Youth Services