California Youth Opioid Response (YOR CA) IV Project
YOR California strengthens statewide, youth-centered opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery systems by expanding access to coordinated, evidence-informed services—including MOUD—for youth and young adults most at risk.
Project Start/End Dates: 2018 and ongoing
Geographical Area(s) of Focus: California-Statewide
Funder: The YOR California project is supported by the California’s State Opioid Response (SOR) IV grant program funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). This grant was provided to DHCS by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Project Overview
YOR California (Youth Opioid Response) is a statewide initiative focused on strengthening prevention, treatment, and recovery services for youth and young adults at risk of opioid misuse and overdose. The project increases access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) when clinically appropriate and supports coordinated, youth-centered responses across systems of care.
Needs
Youth, transition-age youth, and young adults continue to face heightened risks related to opioid use, overdose, and barriers to timely, developmentally appropriate care. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated, multi-system approaches that integrate prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports while engaging families and community partners.
Approach
Since the launch of California’s State Opioid Response in 2018, CIBHS—working in partnership with Advocates for Human Potential—has administered the Youth Opioid Response Project through three rounds of State Opioid Response funding.
Department of Health Care Services has now contracted with the YOR California Team to administer and implement the fourth round of YOR California grant projects. Through this work, YOR California promotes the development, coordination, and strengthening of local multi-system networks and fosters new partnerships among agencies serving youth, young adults, and their families.
Key Focus Areas
Prevention & Early Intervention
Supporting upstream strategies that reduce opioid misuse and overdose risk among youth and young adults.
Treatment & Recovery
Expanding access to developmentally appropriate treatment and recovery supports, including MOUD when clinically indicated.
Systems Coordination
Strengthening cross-sector collaboration among behavioral health, education, justice, healthcare, and community-based organizations.
Capacity Building
Investing in local organizations to deliver effective, culturally responsive services statewide.
