Sacramento Youth Gain Mentorship and New Career Pathways through $100,000 Health Net Grant to Sacramento County Office of Education

Rhea-AI Summary

Health Net (NYSE: CNC) awarded a $100,000 grant to Sacramento County Office of Education on Nov. 12, 2025 to fund youth behavioral-health initiatives. The grant splits into $50,000 for a Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Convening (held Oct. 15) that engaged 117 students, educators, and partners, and $50,000 to develop a web-based Behavioral Health Workforce Map clarifying education-to-career pathways in Sacramento County.

The programs are co-designed with youth leaders, schools, and community groups and align with Health Net's reported commitment of $247 million to community-based organizations from 2020–2025.

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The investment backs a peer-mentorship convening and a new online workforce map to create clear pathways into mental-health jobs for local youth

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed care health plans and a company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to support two ground breaking initiatives aimed at improving youth behavioral health and strengthening the local mental health workforce pipeline.

The investment will fund a Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Convening and the development of a Behavioral Health Workforce Map, both of which will be designed in collaboration with youth leaders, local education agencies, and community-based organizations.

"Young people are some of our strongest messengers for mental health, and schools are where that leadership can truly take root," said Amber Kemp, Vice President, Medi-Cal Strategy, Execution, and Engagement at Health Net. "When we invest in peer mentorship and clear career pathways, we're supporting young people's well-being today — and nurturing the compassionate behavioral-health workforce our communities will rely on tomorrow."

Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Convening
Using $50,000 of the grant, SCOE hosted a countywide convening on October 15, to explore peer-to-peer mentorship as a strategy to promote youth behavioral health. The event brought together 117 students, educators, and community partners to share best practices, highlight existing programs, and co-create a roadmap for expanding trusted peer support in schools.

Behavioral Health Workforce Map
The additional $50,000 will support the creation of a web-based Behavioral Health Workforce Map — a tool designed to clarify the academic and employment pathways available to aspiring mental and behavioral health professionals living in Sacramento County. From high school career technical education programs and peer mentorship roles to graduate degrees and licensure opportunities, the map will serve as a comprehensive guide for students, educators, and job seekers alike.

"Too often, young people passionate about mental health careers struggle to have access to information and opportunities to advance in the career pathway," Shanine Coats, Executive Director, School of Education, Sacramento County Office of Education. "This investment from Health Net helps us illuminate the path forward, connecting passion with purpose and opportunity."

These efforts align with Health Net's broader commitment to advancing whole-person care and addressing drivers of health. From 2020 to 2025, Health Net committed more than $247 million in funding to community-based organizations, including programs that support youth, behavioral health, and workforce development.

About Health Net 
Founded in California more than 45 years ago, Health Net, LLC ("Health Net"), a company of Centene Corporation, believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. With more than 118,000 of our network providers, Health Net serves more than three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services and managed healthcare products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net and Centene Corporation employ more than 5,700 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sacramento-youth-gain-mentorship-and-new-career-pathways-through-100-000-health-net-grant-to-sacramento-county-office-of-education-302613355.html

SOURCE Health Net

FAQ

What did Health Net announce about the $100,000 grant to Sacramento County on Nov. 12, 2025 (CNC)?

Health Net announced a $100,000 grant to SCOE to fund a Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Convening and a web-based Behavioral Health Workforce Map.

How was the $100,000 Health Net grant to SCOE allocated and when was the mentorship convening held?

The grant was split $50,000 for the convening and $50,000 for the workforce map; the convening occurred on Oct. 15, 2025.

What is the purpose of the Behavioral Health Workforce Map funded by Health Net (CNC)?

The web-based map will outline academic and employment pathways—from high school CTE and peer roles to graduate degrees and licensure—for Sacramento County jobseekers and students.

How many participants attended the peer mentorship convening funded by Health Net (CNC)?

The convening brought together 117 students, educators, and community partners to share best practices and co-create an expansion roadmap.

How does the grant relate to Health Net's broader community commitments (CNC)?

The investment aligns with Health Net's broader efforts; the company reported committing $247 million to community-based organizations from 2020–2025.