Mental & Behavioral Health Workforce Advisory

The MBH Workforce Advisory is a subgroup of the Sacramento County Office of Education and Sacramento County Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Service Student Mental Health and Wellness Collaborative.

Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Conference - October 15, 2025

Peer-to-peer mentorship is a strategy recommended by the Sacramento County Behavioral Youth Advisory Board to increase the number of trusted messengers supporting youth behavioral health and well-being. Schools are a key setting where peer mentorship can thrive; however, there is limited awareness of best practices and existing programs in this area.

To address this gap, we—alongside our partners and youth leaders—organized a Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Conference in Sacramento County. This event provided a collaborative space for local education agencies (LEAs), youth, and community-based organizations to explore and learn about peer mentorship strategies together.

This convening was sponsored by Health Net and made possible through the collaboration of Mentor California, Sacramento Youth Center, Pro Youth and Families, and Cal Voices.

Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Grant Opportunity through SCOE’s Career Pipeline

We are proud to announce that the following sites have been selected as Peer-to-Peer Mentoring grant recipients. Congratulations on this significant achievement! This award recognizes your leadership in preparing students for developing quality mental behavioral health pathways and expanding equitable access to supports for students. We look forward to the impact your program will have in strengthening student outcomes, building sustainable pathways, and advancing mental behavioral health practices in education.

Elk Grove Unified School District

  • Cosumnes Oaks High School

  • Florin High School

  • William Daylor High School

Folsom Cordova Unified School District

  • Cordova High School

Twin Rivers Unified School District

  • Creative Connections Arts Academy

  • Norwood Junior High School

Informational Flyer

If you have any additional questions regarding the grant, please send them to dezarae.johnson@scoe.net.

Purpose

Serve as a Mental and Behavioral Health workforce advisory body for employers and educational institutions in Sacramento County. We coordinate efforts, develop resources, and remove barriers for individuals entering and advancing within the MBH workforce. Additionally, we focus on supporting transitional-age youth (TAY;16-26), disconnected youth, and youth from diverse backgrounds.

Peer to Peer Mentoring

Develop a variety of Mental and Behavioral Health Peer-to-Peer Mentor Models for high school and transition age youth (ages16-26), targeting disconnected youth and youth of diverse backgrounds, starting in the K-12 system and through community college to university.

Workforce Retention & Upward Mobility

Develop a list of elevated retention guidelines to help employers upskill, create paths, and retain MBH professionals.

Diversity & Opportunities

Increase the number of diverse mental and behavioral health professionals.