--- title: Meeting the behavioral health needs of California's children and families description: >- See how BrightLife Kids is helping California families access free, trusted support and creating meaningful change for children and caregivers. date: '2026-04-16' category: Blog canonical_url: https://www.brightlife.kids/blog/2025-DHCS-Impact-Report/ source: BrightLife Kids license: © 2026 BrightLife Kids. All rights reserved. slug: 2025-DHCS-Impact-Report id: PmlxqUZWVTLyLtz274AY3 contentType: article --- # Meeting the behavioral health needs of California's children and families *By Craig Wales, April 16, 2026* ![DHCS 2025 Impact Report](https://images.ctfassets.net/c27ds9epot4n/6Lg286L3fHQlZMvKm78VaH/bd6901b9e99e7c3226c4268b7d92f104/DHCS_1_x_1_med.png) - [Sign up for free coaching](https://app.hellobrightline.com/sign_up?locale=en-US) What does meaningful support for families really look like? It looks like those small but powerful shifts you feel at home. Like when your child starts opening up instead of shutting down, or when you finally feel like you know what to say in a tough moment. It’s that quiet feeling of, *okay… we’re not alone in this anymore.* Over the past year, BrightLife Kids has become that lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families in every county across California. And behind every number is something deeply human: relief, confidence, connection, and hope for those kids, parents, and caregivers. In our [latest Impact Report](https://calhope.org/impact), created by the California Department of Health Care Services, shows how we've expanded our reach and impact in 2025 and uncovers stories of families whose lives have been impacted for the better with BrightLife Kids.  ## **For families in California, help is already here** Support shouldn’t depend on where you live. And with BrightLife Kids, it doesn’t. Today, BrightLife Kids is available in every single county across California, meeting families where they are. Since launching in 2024, more than 350,000 children have enrolled in BrightLife Kids, with **262,633 families joining since 2025 alone.** Along the way, we’ve established community relationships to expand access to care and reach families directly, with **more than 2,000 partnerships** across the state.  These include early childhood education centers, K–12 schools and districts, pediatric and family healthcare providers, mental health and therapy practices, parenting organizations and family support programs, community centers and youth programs, and public health and government organizations. From big cities to small towns, BrightLife Kids is building a support system families can actually reach and use. ## **Real results, real kids, real families** In 2025, families consistently shared just how meaningful that support has been. Behind these outcomes are **more than 40,000 coaching and care sessions **with BrightLife Kids’ expert, diverse coaches, each session a moment where a family got the support they needed. - 92% of children showed improvement in personalized coaching goals - 89% of families saw progress in emotional or behavioral challenges - 95% of parents and caregivers felt more confident managing their child’s needs - 99% of families report being satisfied with their experience Families also shared meaningful changes after using BrightLife Kids: - 93% of parents and caregivers report improvements in their child’s behavioral health - 93% also feel more capable of supporting their child’s needs day to day - 83% of caregivers saw improvement in at least one area of caregiver well-being—like stress, worry, family disruption, or fatigue Numbers matter. But what matters more is what they look like in real life. It’s the difference between a morning that starts with stress and one that feels a little more manageable. It’s a child learning how to name their feelings instead of acting them out. It’s a parent having a plan and the confidence to follow through. For Lillian, a BrightLife Kids mom, that impact showed up in her relationship with her daughter. > “It’s hard as a parent to know what to say sometimes or to know what to do. What I was really looking for is someone that would help me navigate my daughter through tense emotions. > > “It’s been such a change between me and my daughter’s relationship. It has helped so much for us to have open communication, a fun relationship again. > > “It’s just really given me the tools on how to be a better, more present mom.” > > That’s what these numbers really mean. Families feeling more connected, more capable, and more supported in their everyday lives. ## **Making behavioral health care accessible to every family** For many families, the challenge isn’t just what’s happening at home. It’s how hard it can be to find support in the first place. BrightLife Kids was built to remove those barriers. There’s no insurance to figure out, no referrals to track down, and no cost to worry about, so families can focus on what matters most: their child. And for many, this is their very first experience with behavioral health support. In fact, **77% of families had never received this kind of care before** finding BrightLife Kids. The program is also reaching families who have historically been left out of traditional systems. **73% of enrolled families identify as BIPOC**, and **support is available in 19 languages**, helping more families feel seen, understood, and included . For Monica, that accessibility helped bring her family closer together in a deeper, more meaningful way. > “Before we even had children, we knew our parenting styles were going to be different. We weren’t together with my son. Then BrightLife Kids came. Now it’s a team effort to help our family. > > “We got connected with the most amazing coach… I’ve seen a lot of differences since we’ve started our sessions. I feel like my son is more understood. He’s heard more. > > “What I like the most about BrightLife Kids is that it’s an opportunity for our whole family, not just for my son.” > > Because when support works, it doesn’t just help one child. It strengthens the entire family. ## **Looking ahead** BrightLife Kids has delivered meaningful outcomes for children, parents, and caregivers, showing what’s possible when support reaches the whole family. These changes remind us that when one part of the family gets support, everyone benefits. As BrightLife Kids continues to grow, so does that ripple effect. We’re expanding access to care so more families can find support earlier, without barriers standing in the way, while deepening our relationships across communities and introducing new programs and resources to meet the urgent and growing behavioral health needs of children and families. Because every child deserves to feel understood, and every parent should feel confident at the end of the day. ## **See how California families are finding care** [Explore the full Impact Report ](https://calhope.org/impact)to see how care is reaching communities, strengthening families, and making a difference in everyday life. Interested in supporting families in your community? [Partner with BrightLife Kids](https://www.brightlife.kids/partners/) to help more children and caregivers access the care they deserve. --- **Looking for support for your family? **BrightLife Kids offers free behavioral health coaching, digital tools, and care coordination for families with kids ages 0–12. It’s simple, compassionate help — at no cost to you and [signing up](https://app.hellobrightline.com/sign_up?locale=en-US) only takes a few minutes. ---