Policy driven. Impact focused.
Implementation is the bridge between policy and impact. It determines whether behavioral health reforms translate into real improvements in care access, coordination, and outcomes for Californians.
The state has made unprecedented investments in behavioral health care, crisis response, housing, and system transformation. But without strong implementation, coordination, accountability, and operational support, even well-designed policies can fall short of their intended impact.
Our implementation approach
The Steinberg Institute partners with innovators, providers, advocates, philanthropy, and government to help behavioral health reforms work in practice across California.
Our work focuses on identifying challenges and opportunities within behavioral health systems and developing practical, scalable solutions that improve how systems work on the ground – bridging the gap between policy design and real-world impact.
We bring a deep understanding of California’s behavioral health policy and research landscape while supporting partners through strategy development, cross-system coordination, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and innovation.
Operationalize behavioral health reform
Developing practical implementation strategies that help policies, programs, and innovations work effectively in real-world settings.
Strengthen accountability and sustainability
Supporting systems in performance improvement, outcomes measurement, financing strategies, and long-term operational success.
Advance coordination
and access
Helping behavioral health, healthcare, housing, justice, and community systems work together more effectively to improve care access and outcomes.
featured implementation projects
California Behavioral Health Transformation: County Performance Accelerator Initiative
The Steinberg Institute partnered with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Social Finance, and Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI) to provide technical assistance to counties as they implement new requirements from the Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) and the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). The initiative aims to ultimately support counties in strengthening performance, equity, transparency, and outcomes in their behavioral health systems.
iFoster Partnership in LA County: Building Behavioral Health Career Pathways
Growing our behavioral health workforce requires opening career pathways. With funding from the R&S Kayne Foundation, the Steinberg Institute and iFoster partnered to expand access to behavioral health careers for Opportunity Youth in Los Angeles County. This partnership builds on our advocacy for SB 803 (Beall, 2020), which the Institute co-sponsored to establish Medi-Cal peer support specialists in California.
Partner with us
Get in touch to learn more about how the Steinberg Institute can help you navigate implementation challenges, strengthen systems, and operationalize behavioral health reforms in practice.