AB-73
Health & Public Health

Mental Health: Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a new Black Mental Health Navigator Certification program to improve culturally competent mental health services and resources for Black communities.
  • Requires specialized training in crisis intervention, mental health assessments, and culturally specific practices for certification candidates.
  • Mandates annual public reporting on certification statistics and employment data while protecting individual privacy.
  • Implementation depends on future legislative funding approval.

Summary

Assembly Member Jackson's proposal to establish a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification program aims to create specialized mental health service liaisons within California's existing community health worker framework. The Department of Health Care Access and Information would develop certification criteria and training requirements focused on mental health resources, crisis intervention for non-emergency situations, and culturally specific practices for serving Black communities.

The certification program would require navigators to complete comprehensive training in entry-level assessments, resource navigation, and wellness services connection. The department must incorporate stakeholder feedback in developing the criteria and may partner with community-based organizations that possess expertise in Black mental health and wellness. Upon implementation, certified navigators would serve as intermediaries between community members and mental health professionals, helping individuals access state resources and licensed care providers.

To track the program's reach, the department would collect and publish annual data on certification rates and employment statistics. This reporting would include demographic information about certificate holders and track the number of certified individuals working in community health worker roles, while maintaining individual privacy protections. The implementation of both the certification program and data collection system remains contingent on legislative funding appropriation.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1970
Mental Health: Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.
January 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (12/12/2024)

Latest Voting History

March 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
140115PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a new Black Mental Health Navigator Certification program to improve culturally competent mental health services and resources for Black communities.
  • Requires specialized training in crisis intervention, mental health assessments, and culturally specific practices for certification candidates.
  • Mandates annual public reporting on certification statistics and employment data while protecting individual privacy.
  • Implementation depends on future legislative funding approval.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Jackson's proposal to establish a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification program aims to create specialized mental health service liaisons within California's existing community health worker framework. The Department of Health Care Access and Information would develop certification criteria and training requirements focused on mental health resources, crisis intervention for non-emergency situations, and culturally specific practices for serving Black communities.

The certification program would require navigators to complete comprehensive training in entry-level assessments, resource navigation, and wellness services connection. The department must incorporate stakeholder feedback in developing the criteria and may partner with community-based organizations that possess expertise in Black mental health and wellness. Upon implementation, certified navigators would serve as intermediaries between community members and mental health professionals, helping individuals access state resources and licensed care providers.

To track the program's reach, the department would collect and publish annual data on certification rates and employment statistics. This reporting would include demographic information about certificate holders and track the number of certified individuals working in community health worker roles, while maintaining individual privacy protections. The implementation of both the certification program and data collection system remains contingent on legislative funding appropriation.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (12/12/2024)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Latest Voting History

March 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
140115PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1970
Mental Health: Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.
January 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1