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July is a time of celebration, connection, and community. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States and enjoy the excitement of the FIFA World Cup, we are reminded that bringing people together strengthens not only our communities but also our health and well-being.
Summer is a wonderful time to be active, recharge, and connect with family and friends. As you enjoy California’s parks, beaches, and community events, remember to stay hydrated, seek shade during the hottest parts of the day, and protect your skin with sunscreen and protective clothing. Get disaster ready at ready.ca.gov.
July is also Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Social Wellness Month, reminding us that health is shaped not only by quality care but supportive relationships, strong communities, and opportunities for everyone to feel connected. Through One Small Thing, we continue to encourage simple acts of kindness that reduce isolation, strengthen resilience, and support parents, caregivers, and families.
As you enjoy all that summer has to offer, take time to care for your physical and mental health, connect with those around you, and help build healthier, more connected communities.
Juntos en salud,
Dr. Diana Ramos
California Surgeon General
| | California 2026 State of the Girl Report | | | California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos was proud to join Girl Scouts Councils of California and partners from across the state last month for the release of the 2026 California State of the Girl Report. The report provides a powerful snapshot of the opportunities and challenges facing more than three million girls across California, from mental and physical health to education, economic security, and leadership. | | At the Office of the California Surgeon General, we know that healthy girls become healthy women, healthy families, and healthy communities. Supporting girls’ physical and mental health, creating environments where they can thrive, and ensuring they have the tools to build healthy futures are essential to improving the health of our state. | | Drawing from research, data, and the voices of girls themselves, the report explores key topics like mental health, education, leadership, safety, technology, and belonging. | | We are grateful to Girl Scouts Councils of California, the First Partner, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the many partners who helped bring this important report to life. | | NEW: Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos | | |
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Step into Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos, an audio series that highlights innovations in maternal health. In this episode, Dr. Ramos talks about medical technology (MedTech) innovation with Ramin Mousavi, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of NovoMed PARTNERS, including:
- Tech and cardiovascular care
- Trust in adopting new technology
- Problem solving through innovation
- Investing in next generation of healthcare companies
- & more
Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos is now available on Spotify and YouTube! Be sure to subscribe and follow for upcoming episodes with other guests and industry leaders.
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With one small act of kindness, everyone has the power to help make a difference in the lives of new moms. The One Small Thing campaign encourages Californians of all ages to strengthen social connection and support new and expecting families through simple, meaningful actions that foster community and belonging.
42% of new moms feel alone during their first year postpartum. The village we build can help change that. Be one more person in the village around a new mom this week. Every act of kindness helps a mom feel seen and heard. Find easy ways to offer support in our coupon book, available in English and Spanish, at OneSmallThingCA.org.
| | A partner toolkit is now available with ready-to-use resources, including social media graphics and post copy, newsletter content, and other communications materials. Help us reach communities across the state and share the campaign with your audiences. Together, we can create a lasting impact for California families—one small thing at a time. | | Minority Mental Health Awareness | | |
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to focus on the unique strengths and challenges that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) face when it comes to mental health. When the world feels overwhelming, isolating, or heavy, connection can be a lifeline, especially in BIPOC communities.
In California, the CalHOPE Warm Line connects people from all backgrounds to peer counselors who have persevered through struggles with stress, anxiety and depression. Call or text the Warm Line at (833) 317-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
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| | Engaging with Community Leaders | Across the state, California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos continues to engage with community leaders, including a recent meeting at Loma Linda University Health where Dr. Ramos had the opportunity to tour the San Manuel Maternity Pavilion and give opening remarks at a grand rounds presentation about the connection between sickle cell disease and maternal health. | | Dr. Ramos also joined leaders at Kaiser Permanente San Marcos Medical Center to learn how they are leveraging responsible artificial intelligence (AI). From automated documentation to advanced analytics, these tools empower doctors and elevate patient outcomes. By building responsible, human-led AI systems, we can protect the patient-physician relationship and ensure safe, equitable care for every mother and family in California. | | Advancing Behavioral Health for California's Children, Youth, and Families | | | | | |
The CYBHI Legacy Report: Advancing Behavioral Health — From Moment to Movement highlights how systems across the state are shifting to center the needs of young people and improve access to care:
- New pathways to care that improve access and experience
- Innovative tools designed with and for youth
- Expanded services supporting wellness, addressing substance use, and preventing crises
- A growing and diversified workforce
For more information about the initiative, visit cybhi.chhs.ca.gov.
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| | The long-standing global maternity care payment bundle is ending on December 31, 2026. In this commentary on key implementation considerations for the 2027 unbundling of maternity care payment, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health CEO Joy Burkhard explains how this provides a critical opportunity to redesign how prenatal and postpartum care are not only reimbursed, but delivered and measured. | | Events, Webinars & Other Opportunities | | |
July 15, 2026
Led by Dr. Patience Afulani, this session explores the social, economic, and structural factors that shape maternal health outcomes around the world and close to home. Together, we'll examine persistent inequities in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care and highlight innovative solutions, including San Francisco's Pregnancy Village, a community-centered approach to supporting families and advancing birth equity.
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HRSA offers grant and cooperative agreement funding, including competitive, expansion, and non-competing continuation opportunities.
Applications close July 17, 2026:
Applications close July 20, 2026:
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California Rural Health Transformation Grant Funding
California Rural Health Transformation is opening three grant funding opportunities in July. These opportunities will support rural health providers and organizations across California:
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Accelerator Partners – supports collaborative models that seek to strengthen primary and maternity care across rural communities.
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EHR Modernization – supports technology systems, data exchange, and digital tools that enable coordinated, efficient care delivery across rural networks.
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Workforce Development Recruitment, Retention, and Relocation – aims to strengthen and sustain the rural healthcare workforce by improving recruitment, retention, and training for health professionals.
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August 7, 2026 | Sacramento, CA and Virtual
The Department of Health Care Services is pleased to invite all Medi-Cal members, providers, community partners, and stakeholders to join our upcoming Medi-Cal Doula Services Townhall. This hybrid forum will share important updates on Medi-Cal doula services and provide a space for shared learning, discussion, and questions. This webinar is open to all interested parties, and we encourage broad participation as we discuss ongoing efforts to strengthen Medi-Cal doula services and improve access, quality, and Medi-Cal member experience.
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October 19-20, 2026 | Los Angeles, CA
This year’s conference centers on the clinical dimensions of perinatal mental health, exploring the diverse range of effective evidence-based practices, as well as community-facing interventions. Early Bird Rate ends August 15, 2026. Register now.
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December 14-15, 2026 | Riverside, CA
This year’s California Hospital Association Behavioral Health Care Symposium will tackle the most pressing challenges facing behavioral health care professionals and offer insights into complying with California’s shifting policies. Explore the issues keeping behavioral health care professionals up at night and learn innovative ways to connect patients to community-based care. Registration now open.
| | Have a suggestion or an interest in collaborating or being featured in an upcoming newsletter or other communication channel? Contact us for consideration at osginfo@osg.ca.gov. | | | | |
