CalOptima Health’s mission is to serve member health with excellence and dignity, respecting the value and needs of each person. CalOptima Health recognizes that health is shaped by far more than clinical care — the environments where members live, work, and gather are powerful determinants of their long-term well-being. Addressing these upstream conditions is essential to achieving meaningful, lasting improvements in member health and reducing health disparities across Orange County.
The City Health Improvement Grant Program reflects this commitment by partnering with Orange County’s 34 incorporated cities to make targeted, community-level investments that improve the environments where CalOptima Health members spend their daily lives. Projects will strengthen community infrastructure, expand preventive health access, improve food and mental wellness supports, and reduce environmental health risks — ensuring that members across the county may benefit from these investments regardless of where they live.
CalOptima Health has designed the City Health Improvement Grant Program to distribute funding throughout Orange County for projects that will have a measurable impact on member health and are not already covered Medi-Cal services. The application period is July 31 – October 30, 2026.
The City Health Improvement Grant Program is designed to achieve the following goals across Orange County:
CalOptima Health has committed $5.2 million in funds to the City Health Improvement Grant Program. All 34 incorporated cities in Orange County are invited to apply. A maximum funding allocation has been assigned to each city based on the estimated number of CalOptima Health Medi-Cal members residing in that jurisdiction, determined using a data-driven K-Means clustering methodology.
Cities may propose one or multiple projects from the Eligible Projects list, provided the total request does not exceed the maximum allocation assigned to the applicant city.
Cities are assigned to one of four segments based on CalOptima Health member volume and population penetration (according to an internal database):
| Segments | Cities | Maximum Funding Request |
|---|---|---|
| Segment 1 (High Volume, High Penetration) | Anaheim, Santa Ana | $350,212.47 |
| Segment 2 (Mid-Volume, High Penetration) | Garden Grove, Westminster | $262,659.35 |
| Segment 3 (Moderate Volume, Average Penetration) | Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, Tustin | $175,106.24 |
| Segment 4 (Low Volume, Low Penetration) | Aliso Viejo, Brea, Cypress, Dana Point, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Seal Beach, Villa Park, Yorba Linda | $87,553.12 |
The maximum funding amounts listed above reflect the upper limit a city may request. Cities are not required to apply for the full maximum amount.
Cities may propose projects from the following menu, organized into four priority categories. Eligible projects must be operationalized at approved project locations.
| Project* | Description | Expected Health Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1: Community Wellness Infrastructure | ||
| Community Health & Fitness Hub | Create a small wellness space with basic exercise equipment | Increased physical activity; improved management of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity |
| Asthma-Friendly Playground Improvements | Install low-allergen landscaping, improved surfacing, and air-quality-friendly playground equipment | Reduced asthma triggers; improved pediatric respiratory health |
| Outdoor Wellness & Recreation Improvements | Provide mobile showers, install exercise stations, or create wellness areas | Increased physical activity; improved cardiovascular health; reduced social isolation |
| Category 2: Preventive Health Access | ||
| Community Preventive Health Fair Program | Host health fairs providing screenings, preventive care information, and enrollment support | Increased preventive screening rates; earlier detection of chronic conditions; improved connection to primary care |
| Public Health Kiosk / Self-Service Screening Station | Install self-service kiosks for blood pressure, weight, and basic health indicators | Increased screening for hypertension and chronic disease risk; earlier connection to primary care |
| Category 3: Food and Mental Health Supports | ||
| Community Garden / Nutrition Space | Create a community garden that supports healthy food access | Improved nutrition access; increased physical activity; improved mental well-being |
| Community Mental Health Quiet Rooms | Create calming spaces with soundproofing, comfortable seating, and sensory features | Reduced stress and anxiety; supportive environments for mental wellness |
| Healthy Food Pantry Refrigeration | Provide refrigerators and freezers for community food pantries | Increased access to fresh produce and healthy foods |
| Category 4: Environmental and Climate Health | ||
| Shade & Rain Shelter Structures | Install permanent shade structures or rain shelters in public spaces | Reduced exposure to extreme weather; fewer weather-related health complications |
| Park Hydration Station | Install water bottle refill and hydration stations | Improved hydration; reduced heat-related illness |
| Cooling Center / Heat Relief Program | Establish or enhance cooling centers with fans, misting systems, and hydration stations | Reduced heat-related illness, dehydration, and emergency department visits during extreme heat events |
*Due to the recent hazardous materials incident, Garden Grove will be offered direct technical assistance to develop a proposal that supports emergent and related needs.
A full description of each project, including project examples, connection to CalOptima Health's mission, and example impact metrics, is available in Attachment 1: Eligible Projects Menu.
Applicants must:
Projects chosen by each city must be operationalized at the locations listed below in accordance with the total amount of funding allocated to that city:
| Segment Category | Eligible Project Locations |
|---|---|
| Segment 4 | Shelters; Interim Housing; Senior Centers |
| Segment 3 | Community Centers; Public Childcare Centers; plus all Category 1 locations |
| Segments 1 & 2 | Public Parks; Libraries; plus all Category 1 and 2 locations |
Grant requests must fall within the maximum funding allocation assigned to the applicant city (see above). The grant term will begin April 1, 2027. Proposed budgets must adequately reflect the scope and depth of the proposed project(s) and deliverables.
Once all letters of interest have been submitted by participating cities, CalOptima Health will confirm the total request for each applicant. Should not all 34 cities apply, CalOptima Health will recalculate (increase) the maximum funding request for each confirmed applicant with the aim of committing 100% of the dedicated funds through this NOFO. Applicants will then complete the full application with the revised maximum funding request allotted.
Examples of allowable expenses include:
Costs other than capital and infrastructure including community outreach, education, and programming costs associated with funded projects and reporting activities cannot account for more than 10% of the total budget.
Grant funds may not be used for:
Payment structure will be defined in the fully executed grant agreement for awarded grants.
This funding opportunity is open to all 34 incorporated cities in Orange County. To be eligible:
Cities interested in applying for the City Health Grant should complete the following steps:
Step 1 — Attend Bidders' Conference: CalOptima Health will host a Bidders' Conference to answer questions about the NOFO and application. Attendance is strongly encouraged.
Step 2 — Submit Letter of Intent (LOI): Complete and submit the LOI by the deadline indicated in the application timeline.
Step 3 — Complete and Submit Full Application: Following LOI submission and any re-allocation of funds, submit a complete application in the CalOptima Health grants portal by the application deadline.
To submit your application and access all documents related to this NOFO, visit the Application Portal.
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Released/Portal Opens | 7/31/2026 |
| Bidder’s Conference * Q&A will be posted on the Funding Opportunity webpage | 8/12/2026 |
| Letter of Intent Deadline | 8/31/2026 |
| Confirm Applicants and Max Funding Amounts | 9/15/2026 |
| Full Application Deadline *Technical assistance will be provided as needed to applicants. | 10/30/2026 |
| Internal Review | November – December 2026 |
| CalOptima Health Board of Directors Meeting | 2/4/2027 |
| Announcement of Approved Grants | 2/5/2027 |
| Grant Start Date | 4/1/2027 |
Because this is a non-competitive opportunity, applicants will not be scored in competition with other applicants. Instead, cities must achieve at least 75% to be eligible to receive their grant award.
| Criterion | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CalOptima Health Value Alignment | 10 | Project reflects CalOptima Health's mission of optimizing member health, demonstrates a commitment to health equity, and supports whole-person care principles. |
| Project Description | 20 | Project description is clear, concise, well-matched to the Eligible Projects Menu, and reflects best practices for community health improvement. |
| Project Implementation Plan | 20 | Plan is complete and includes specific objectives, logical and feasible activities, a clear timeline, and well-defined measures of success. |
| Readiness | 15 | Cities that can demonstrate readiness to launch projects promptly upon grant award will receive more points. |
| Capacity | 15 | City demonstrates sufficient administrative, financial, and operational capacity to carry out the proposed project(s). |
| Sustainability | 10 | Project is sustainable beyond this funding opportunity or is clearly time-bound and does not require continuous funding. |
| Evaluation Plan | 10 | Applicant clearly articulates a feasible and well-thought-out plan for evaluating project success and reporting impact. |
| Total | 100 |
Questions about the funding opportunity or application? Contact the Grant Management Team at communitygrants@caloptima.org.