September 24, 2026 – From the recent teen thrifting trend to Meta’s child safety trial settlement, your September News Roundup is here.

September 22, 2026 – Trigger Warning.

In the 2022 California Healthy Kids Survey, 17% of high school teens had thought about taking their own life. In 2025, the percentage dropped to 9%.

From 17% to 9% in just 3 years.

That’s the percentage of California high school teens reporting thoughts of taking their own lives dropping to the lowest number in the history of the California Healthy Kids Survey.

The difference?

According to CYBHI Director Dr. Sohil Sud, Certified Wellness Coaches are a big factor.

Sometimes, having the supportive conversations can make the biggest impact.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. You can also chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

#CWC #SuicidePreventionMonth #MentalHealth

September 18, 2026 – Back-to-school season can be overwhelming—for students, parents, and teachers alike.

That’s why Certified Wellness Coaches are stepping up with tools and strategies to help youth stay balanced and resilient.

Watch the full video for 5 tips for a healthy school year.

Click here to learn more about the latest HCAI-Designated Education programs for aspiring Certified Wellness Coaches.

September 16, 2026 – Certified Wellness Coaches work with children and youth in schools and communities. Robin Pence from Novato, California, shares her experience as a Wellness Coach.

“The nice thing about being a Wellness Coach is that I can kind of fill in the gaps where there’s the teacher and the staff member, and then the counselor… that space between. When I work with students, I teach them strategies for how to regulate themselves.”

Watch the video to hear how Robin works with students day to day, and why she understands their struggles.

Looking for a career where you can help kids learn how to cope? Learn more about becoming a Certified Wellness Coach by clicking this link.

September 3, 2026 – The 10th Annual Wellness Together conference returns to San Diego, California on September 9–11.

Wellness Together, in partnership with the California Department of Education, is the largest international student mental health advocacy conference. Each year policymakers, school and district leaders, and mental health professionals connect, equip, and inspire the best minds in education and mental health for meaningful impact.

The Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) street team will be on the ground and armed with swag, brochures and answers to your frequently asked questions! In addition to returning for the third year in a row (stop by booth 116 and say hello), there will be two CWC breakout sessions on Friday, September 11. Click on either of the sessions below to visit the official conference website for more information. We’re excited to see you there!

Certified Wellness Coaches: Statewide Updates, Early Impact and Direct Insights from a CWC and CWC Employer

Friday September 11, 2026 9:15–10:15 am PDT, 32 A-B

Learn about the latest updates and impacts of California’s new Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) profession from the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), a workforce helping schools expand prevention and early intervention support for children and youth.

In this informational session, HCAI will share recent developments, early outcomes, and hear insights from a local employer who has integrated CWCs into their system to strengthen school-based care teams and promote the overall health and well-being of children and youth.

Beyond the Degree: Navigating Your Path as a California Certified Wellness Coach (CWC)

Friday September 11, 2026 9:15–10:15 am PDT, 33 B

The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) created the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) role specifically to bridge this chasm. It is a free, non-clinical certification for people with Associate (CWC I) or Bachelor’s (CWC II) degrees. It validates your lived experience and field hours, allowing you to get paid to deliver critical preventive care (wellness promotion, screenings, and group support) under supportive supervision.

A clear, step-by-step framework showing students how to leverage their current classes and practicum hours, navigate the “Registered” status, and step directly into a thriving career in schools or community clinics.

August 21, 2026 – California is changing how children and young people get behavioral health support across the state, and Certified Wellness Coaches are part of that shift.

Through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, the state has invested more than $4 billion to expand access to behavioral health care, strengthen support in schools and communities, and grow the workforce serving young people.

And that workforce is growing. More than 70,000 people have been supported along behavioral health workforce pathways, including close to 5,000 Certified Wellness Coaches. And the workforce is growing!

The initiative is reaching young people in other ways, too. Digital behavioral health services have supported more than 500,000 children, youth, and families across all 58 California counties.

Want to see the bigger picture?

The CYBHI Legacy Report: Advancing Behavioral Health — From Moment to Movement takes a closer look at what California has built so far, including new pathways to care, youth-designed tools, expanded services, and a growing behavioral health workforce.

See how Certified Wellness Coaches fit into California’s broader effort to support young people and where that work is headed next.

Explore the Legacy Report.

August 12, 2026 – Read all about youth mental health gains, calm classroom corners, and raising kids to value equality in this month’s News Roundup.

August 5, 2026 – Last year, middle schooler Eli A. was being bullied. One day during lunch, he met the Certified Wellness Coach on campus and asked if he could talk to her.

“A lot of the school goes and talks to her,” Eli told us. “Now there’s less bullies.”

That’s just one way that Wellness Coaches help the young people they serve. Coaches are another trusted adult on campus who listens to the students, and can help parents have peace of mind that someone is dedicated to their child’s mental well-being.

Watch the full video to hear what other young people and parents are saying about Wellness Coaches.

July 31, 2026 – The California Love, California Strong Foundation recently hosted an event at the historic Los Angeles Coliseum.

The Foundation centers belonging and connection across California through self-care, social connection, and service. Certified Wellness Coach Angie M. joined First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and CYBHI Director Dr. Sohil Sud for a youth-centered panel on how behavioral health professionals are supporting mental health statewide.

“While we are increasingly connected through our digital world, too many young people are still facing loneliness, anxiety, and overall mental health struggles,” said the First Partner. “We all share a responsibility to normalize asking for help and show up for young people and families across the state.”

Ready to show up for young people? See if you’re eligible to get certified by clicking here.

July 17, 2026 – Right now, there’s a young boy who does not want to go to school because he is being bullied.

There’s a teenage boy who has witnessed gun violence and is having trouble processing his emotions. Another male teen is overwhelmed as he tries to care for his siblings and juggle school while his single mother works two jobs. And out on the streets, a young man struggling with addiction lacks the confidence to ask for help.

According to a 2025 RAND report, 1 in 3 boys and young men have no trusted adult male that they can confide in. And 1 in 4 don’t have a male mentor who can help them plan for the future. This is especially true for young Black males and LGBTQ+ male youth.

Broken homes, poverty, food insecurity, domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and other challenges and social pressures can lead to anxiety and feelings of anger, frustration, sadness, hopelessness and despair.

These young boys and men deserve a chance to work through their emotions and challenges in a safe way. Often, it starts with confiding in a trusted male adult who listens without judgement. Someone relatable, who understands their experience or simply cares enough to show up. That’s what a male Certified Wellness Coach offers.

Consider a Rewarding Career Helping Others

There is an urgent need to support the mental health needs of California’s children and youth. It’s a key reason why California created a new behavioral health care profession: the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC). If you are starting your career or considering a career change, you might be a good fit.

Wellness Coaches provide non-clinical services to support the behavioral health and well-being of young people, including wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. They work as part of a larger care team and under the direction of qualified school professionals or clinicians in schools, community organizations, and other health care settings that serve youth.

In this role, you could help a family connect with resources they didn’t know existed. You may encourage a young boy to keep trying before he gives up on school. You could be the trusted adult who picks up on signs that a child or teen needs an immediate referral to a school counselor or therapist. You’ll be a trusted male mentor and part of an important care team that is making a difference, particularly in young males’ lives.

As you grow in your career, you may find that being a CWC is a great stepping stone to other behavioral health care careers.

The good news is that the certification process is free. And you don’t need to worry about AI taking this job…nothing can replace your authentic experience and compassion for others. Learn more and check your eligibility here.