What Are Community Supports?
As part of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), Community Supports are services that can help you with more than just your basic health needs. You may qualify for Community Supports based on eligibility criteria. Services address:
- Finding stable or safe housing
- Accessing healthy food
- Transitioning back to your home
- Getting support in your home
- And more
Community Supports Flyers and Referral Forms
Members and their families can learn more about and self-refer to Community Supports by accessing the flyers and forms below.
Community Support Flyers
Download the flyers to learn more about Community Supports.Community Support Referral Form
You can also talk to your primary care provider, call us toll-free at 1-888-587-8088 (TTY 711) or refer yourself for Community Supports by filling out this form.
What Community Supports are offered?
Housing Transition Navigation Services
Housing Deposits
Helps members establish a basic household with funding for one-time costs, like a security deposit, setup fees/deposits for utilities, one-time cleaning, furniture and/or other goods.
Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services
Recuperative Care (Medical Respite)
Short-Term Post-Hospitalization Housing
Provides members who do not have a residence and who have high medical or behavioral health needs with the opportunity to continue their medical/ psychiatric/substance use disorder recovery immediately after exiting an inpatient hospital, residential substance use disorder treatment or recovery facility, residential mental health treatment facility, correctional facility, nursing facility, or recuperative care.
Day Habilitation Programs
Medically Tailored Meals
Sobering Center
Personal Care and Homemaker Services
Respite Services
Environmental Accessibility Adaptions (Home Modifications)
Asthma Remediation
Nursing Facility Transition
Community Transition Services
Allows members to live in the community and avoid further institutionalization.
Enhanced Care Management
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) is a new statewide Medi-Cal benefit available to select populations of focus that addresses the clinical and non-clinical needs of the highest-utilizing members through intensive coordination of health and health-related services. ECM meets members wherever they are—on the street, in a shelter, in their doctor's office or at home. Members have a single lead care manager who will coordinate care and services among the physical, behavioral, dental, developmental and social services delivery systems, making it easier for them to get the right care at the right time.
ECM Referral Form
Members and their families may self-refer to ECM by using the form below.
Populations of Focus
- Individuals and families experiencing homelessness
- Adults, youth and children who are high utilizers of avoidable emergency department, hospital or short-term skilled nursing facility services
- Adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorder
- Children and youth with serious emotional disturbance, identified to be at clinical high risk for psychosis or experiencing the first episode of psychosis
- Adults and youth who are incarcerated and transitioning to the community
- Adults at risk of institutionalization and eligible for long-term care
- Adult nursing facility residents transitioning to the community
- Children and youth enrolled in California Children’s Services (CCS) with needs beyond CCS
- Children and youth involved in child welfare (including those with a history of involvement in welfare and foster care up to age 26)
Stopping ECM
Participation in ECM is voluntary. If you would like to stop ECM at any time, please let your ECM provider know or call CalOptima Health Customer Service at 888-587-8088 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Changing ECM Provider and/or Lead Care Manager
If you would like to change ECM provider and/or Lead Care Manager at any time, please call CalOptima Health Customer Service at 888-587-8088 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Services
A Community Health Worker (CHW) helps people stay healthy and get the care they need. CHWs provide preventive health services to:
- Help stop diseases and health problems before they start or get worse
- Support physical and mental health
- Improve overall well-being
CHWs might have a variety of job titles, such as:
- Promotores
- Community health representatives
- Navigators
- Violence prevention professionals.
CHWs can provide one-on-one or group support in different ways:
What CHWs Do
CHWs can provide one-on-one or group support in different ways. (Note: if you are in the Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program, you cannot get CHW services at the same time. However, CHWs may be part of your ECM Care Team.)
Health Education
CHWs support your health and address barriers to physical and mental health care by providing information or instruction on health topics.
Health Navigation
CHWs provide information, training, referrals or support to help you access health care, understand the health care delivery system or engage in your own care. They can help you:
- Find doctors, clinics, and other health care services
- Understand how health insurance and medical services work
- Get community resources, such as food, housing, and transportation
- Access interpreter or translation services
- Apply for health programs or keep your coverage active
CHWs can also:
- Work with doctors and care teams to support your health
- Encourage you to get preventive care
- Help connect you to the right services when needed
Screening and Assessment
Individual Support or Advocacy
CHWs support you if you’re at risk of a health problem, injury, or violence. They can also provide peer support when needed.
Access Helpful Resources
Find a Doctor Near You
Search our network to find a trusted provider that meets your health care needs.
Explore Medi-Cal Benefits
See the benefits and services our Medi-Cal program offers.
Discover Our Mental Health Services
Read about our integrated behavioral health services to support your mental wellness.
Find Out About Our Other Programs
Learn about our other programs and services offered to our Medi-Cal members.
OC HMIS Privacy Notice
In accordance with Orange County HMIS Policies and Procedures, participating agencies must post the Privacy Notice on their website. OC HMIS Privacy notices are available below in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. They can also be accessed via the OC HMIS Website
05-2025 Privacy Notice - English
05-2025 Privacy Notice English - Spanish
05-2025 Privacy Notice English - Vietnamese