CWES Update 25-03: Health Alliance Referrals
CWES Handbook
| Date | References | Clerical | Implementation |
| 04/21/2025 | N/A | N/A | 04/08/2025 |
Background
The CalWORKs Community Health Alliance (HA) is a partnership between the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency and the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System’s Department of Mental Health. The purpose of this partnership is to provide comprehensive behavioral health services to CalWORKs clients and their families.
Changes
Effective April 8, 2025, the following HA contractors are no longer accepting referrals under the HA program:
- Asian Americans for Community Involvement
- Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
- Gardner Family Care Corporation.
All referrals for HA services must be submitted to the Mental Health Services Team.
When the referring party is an Associate Employment Counselor (AEC)/Employment Counselor (EC), all referrals for HA services must be submitted via the DEBS Referral Application, following the guidance outlined in the DEBS Referral Application section of the Health Alliance (HA) Referral Procedures topic in the CWES Handbook (HB).
If the referring party, such as an education and training site, a community-based organization, or another agency working with CalWORKs participants, does not have access to the DEBS Referral Application, they must email the completed CalWORKs Community Health Alliance Services Referral (SCD 1686) to CalWORKs@hhs.sccgov.org.
With this Update, the following topics in the Health Alliance Chapter have been revised:
- Health Alliance (HA) Referral Procedures has been updated by removing the section titled "Selecting a Health Alliance Service Provider" and adding a new section titled "DEBS Referral Application."
- Health Alliance (HA) Services has been updated by removing the "Residential Treatment Services" and "Transitional Housing Services" sections.
- Orientation and Appraisal - Conducting the CWES Orientation has been updated to reflect the removal of HA contractors who are no longer accepting HA referrals.
Forms
The SCD 1686 has been revised as follows:
- References to CalWIN have been replaced with CalSAWS terminology.
- Language regarding verbal consent has been removed, as clients are now required to provide consent by signing the SCD 1686.
- Contractors who are no longer accepting HA referrals, along with their contact information, have been removed.
The CalWORKs Community Providers (SCD 2230) brochure has also been revised to remove contractors who are no longer accepting HA referrals, along with their contact information.
Data Systems
The DEBS Referral Application will be updated to remove the following providers from the Provider Name field:
- Health Alliance Assessment-ESB – AACI
- Health Alliance Assessment-ESB – CCSCC
- Health Alliance Assessment-ESB – GFCC.
Department of Employment & Benefits Services
Contact Person: Michelle Rojas, SSA BPIS, (408) 755-7540