California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 127825

(a) As a component of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative established pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 5961) of Part 7 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the office is hereby authorized to award competitive grants to entities and individuals it deems qualified to expand the supply of behavioral health counselors, coaches, peer supports, and other allied health care providers serving children and youth, including those at schoolsites.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “behavioral health coach” means a new category of behavioral health provider trained specifically to help address the unmet mental health and substance use needs of children and youth. Recognizing that unmet mental health and substance use needs create learning barriers, behavioral health coaches shall engage and support children and youth in cultural, linguistic, and age-appropriate services, with the ability to refer and link to higher levels of care, as needed. As members of a care team, behavioral health professionals serving as a coach receive appropriate supervision from licensed staff. Training and qualifications include, but are not limited to, psychoeducation, system navigation, crisis deescalation, safety planning, coping skills, and motivational interviewing.