Rural Resilience Innovation Hub
You don’t have to navigate complex reforms alone
A shared space for rural collaboration and real solutions.
Rural Northern California counties are rich with wisdom, relationships, and local ingenuity. At the same time, counties face complex systems, limited resources, and overlapping initiatives that can make behavioral health work challenging. The Rural Resilience Innovation Hub (RRIH) brings these realities together—connecting people who care deeply about children, youth, and families. Together, we celebrate local strengths, share what’s working, and turn collective learning into practical strategies that address challenges while building on community resilience and creativity.
Join neighbors from behavioral health, justice education, community organizations, and more to learn, share, and build partnerships that make a real difference. This community of practice will offer a shared space to:
- Exchange real solutions with peers across rural counties in Northern California
- Build partnerships that matter
- Align with reforms like CalAIM to make them work locally.
- Learn together how to strengthen systems of care for youth and families
Who Should Participate?
Anyone working with children and youth in behavioral health, probation/justice, education, or community organizations across rural Northern California.
Why Join?
- Connect with others in Northern California facing similar challenges
- Learn what’s working in other communities
- Co-create strategies that center youth and families
Stay Connected. Stay Informed.
Upcoming Meetings
Rural Resilience Innovation Hub In-Person Meeting & Training
May 19, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
McConnell Foundation, 800 Shasta View Dr, Redding, CA 96003
Guest trainers: Megan S. Irgens, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco; and Lauren Haack, University of California, San Francisco.
This session will bring together partners from across rural Northern California for an in-person Rural Resilience Innovation Hub (RRIH) meeting and training. The agenda will include a review of newly updated Northern ACEs Collaborative (NAC) regional data presented by Seun Aluko, PHIL’s Director of Applied Research and Implementation, as well as a training on Single-Session Consultation (SSC).
Participants will gain practical insights into the SSC model, including its structured approach and evidence-based strategies, and explore how these tools can support children, youth, and families across settings while strengthening partnerships in rural communities. The session will also include facilitated tabletop discussions to encourage peer exchange and collaboration. Food will be provided.
Resource Library
Explore the full Rural Resilience Hub resource collection, featuring highlighted tools and presentation materials, information about Hub partners, and ways to connect with a greater network of community-led innovation:
Past Meetings
April 23 | Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) and Less Restrictive Programs: A Plain-Language Overview for Counties
Guest speakers Angeles Zaragoza, subject matter expert in Less Restrictive Programs at the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, part of the California Health and Human Services Agency, and Michael M. Massa, Ed.D., Chief of the Health Policy Division at OYCR, provided an overview of OYCR and shared examples of least restrictive programs.
Speakers offered practical insights on how counties could align services, partnerships, and planning to meet the Court’s expectations and better support young people in the community.
March 19 | Rural Resilience Innovation Hub Session: Leveraging CYBHI to Support Youth and Families
Guest speakers from the California Department of Health Care Services, Office of Strategic Partnerships, Josh Armstrong, Unit Chief of the School-Based Services Branch, and Tisha Monteiro, Branch Chief of the Delivery Systems and Operations Branch, provided a practical overview of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) and its opportunities to support youth and families better. JoNell Amacker, NCC, Director of School-Based Mental Health & Wellness at the Tehama County Department of Education, also contributed insights from Tehama County’s school-based mental health programs.
Speakers highlighted ongoing programs and resources, including the CYBHI Fee Schedule and Certified Wellness Coach services, and shared how communities and partners could access and leverage these opportunities to support their local communities.
March 17 | Deep Dive: CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative
This session provided an overview of the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, including background information, eligibility requirements, and key considerations for organizations interested in participating as providers. Participants from CPIs across California attended and engaged in an open Q&A. The session concluded with CalAIM announcements and policy updates, along with an opportunity for Northwest and Southwest CPI participants to share feedback on their experiences.
February 19: Rural Resilience Related County Plans: Opportunities for Collaboration
This session provided a high-level overview of key county planning requirements and how they intersect, including Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) plans, Office of Youth and Community Restoration Youth Justice plans, and Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Participants explored practical opportunities to align these efforts in support of children, youth, and families.
January 22: Community-Engaged Practices
This session focused on community-engaged practices and featured Megan Irgens and Karen Pautz, two guest speakers deeply engaged in rural community work to explore what these partnerships look like in real rural contexts, what makes them work, and what we can learn from one another.
December 18: Strengthening Partnerships Across Systems
This session focused on building collaborative partnerships that foster trust and cross-sector support by taking a systems approach, grounded in shared goals and accountability to the communities we serve. Featuring guest speaker Ronni Duncan, Manager of Care Management with Adventist Health, participants had the opportunity to connect with peers, reflect on real partnership challenges, and surface practical insights from across counties and sectors. Recording available upon request.
November 20: The Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL) and the Northern ACEs Collaborative (NAC), with support from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR), hosted a virtual kickoff to launch the Rural Resilience Innovation Hub(RRIH)—a space for shared learning, reflection, and action across youth-serving systems.
The session focused on the key findings received through a survey of 160 rural partners across 57 counties to shape how this shared learning space evolves moving forward. Recording available upon request.
Get Involved
Join us and be part of a growing network strengthening youth and family wellbeing across rural communities.
Who’s Behind This Work
In partnership with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR), the Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL) will design and facilitate this eight-month peer learning and collaboration experience engaging up to ten rural Northern California counties. The Hub will strengthen local and cross-county responses to the behavioral health needs of children, youth, and families by fostering shared learning, innovation, and systems alignment.
