Kaiser Permanente, in collaboration with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, is expanding its Mental Health Career Accelerator program in Southern California to help people with master’s degrees in mental health overcome barriers to getting their license. Applications are open from May 4-27, 2026, with a July 2026 start date.
Supported by a $4.36 million, 32-month investment, the next phase of the program will help 306 master’s-level graduates in Southern California advance toward obtaining their license, strengthening access to mental health and substance use/addiction care across the region. With a new name and updated design, the program is built to grow faster and support more future clinicians with an aim to enroll 1,000 graduates nationally by 2028.
“At Kaiser Permanente, we recognize that many graduates face real barriers on the path to clinical licensure—from navigating complex requirements to accessing consistent supervision and support,” said John Yamamoto, vice president, community health and government relations, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Southern California. “These challenges are especially significant in areas such as the Inland Empire and Kern County where there are large gaps between supply and demand for licensed clinicians. Through the Mental Health Career Accelerator, we are working with national and local partners to help remove those barriers and strengthen the pipeline of professionals needed to serve our communities.”
Mental and behavioral health remains a top priority nationwide, with nearly 60 million adults experiencing mental illness each year. Yet about half do not receive treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In Southern California, access to care remains a challenge, including a shortage of licensed mental health professionals and a need for more multilingual clinicians to serve one of the most diverse regions in the country. Many communities, particularly those historically underserved, continue to face barriers to timely, affordable mental health services.
Originally launched in 2023 and expanded to Southern California in 2024, the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Career Accelerator is already providing support to over 90 local candidates on their path to licensure. Current and former participants, along with mental health leaders, gave input on enhancements to the program model, which was updated in late 2025.
The program provides:
- Financial stipends to help offset licensure-related costs
- Technical assistance and professional development
- Access to evidence-based practices in behavioral health care
- A centralized online learning platform
- Peer learning and mentorship opportunities
The updated program model is designed to expand access as well as enhance and simplify the overall experience for participants as they progress toward licensure.
“If I were pursuing licensure on my own, it would look very different,” said Brianna Simental, a program participant in Southern California. “This program has given me the support and confidence to keep moving forward.”
Simental has completed her required hours while participating in the program and is now preparing to schedule her licensure exam, further demonstrating the program’s effectiveness.
In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, access to mental health care continues to be a significant need, particularly in underserved communities. Through partnerships with local academic institutions, including California Baptist University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Riverside, Kaiser Permanente is expanding the pipeline of clinicians to keep pace with the Inland Empire’s population growth and increasing need for behavioral health care, while ensuring providers reflect the region’s multicultural communities.
“As an educator, I have seen firsthand how complex and isolating the path to licensure can be for emerging professionals,” said Dr. Kristina Gordon, Doctor of Social Work, assistant professor of social work and Bachelor of Social Work program director at California Baptist University. “Programs like the Mental Health Career Accelerator are essential to developing a well-prepared mental health workforce that can effectively meet the needs of communities across our region."
“Thanks to this important?investment in the mental health career accelerator program in Riverside?County, we?are well on our way to helping?mental health graduates navigate?the process of?earning their license?and begin?serving?vulnerable?communities throughout the Inland Empire,” said?Sammy Totah, senior vice president and area manager for the Kaiser Permanente Riverside Service Area.
“Providing high quality, evidenced-based mental health services to diverse populations in San Bernardino County is a priority to Kaiser Permanente, and this career accelerator program ensures that more licensed clinicians are in the field and prepared to meet the increased demand for care,” said Ruby Gill, senior vice president and area manager for the Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino Service Area.
Kaiser Permanente and the National Council encourage eligible master’s-level candidates across Southern California to apply during the May application period.
Visit www.thenationalcouncil.org/program/accelerator/join-the-accelerator to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.