This study, funded as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Systems for Action research program, evaluates the effectiveness of California’s CalAIM Medicaid Waiver program in integrating social service and public health organizations into Medicaid coordinated systems of care for individuals with complex health and social needs. CalAIM is designed to dismantle forms of structural racism by investing nearly $2 Billion in helping Medicaid health plans and medical providers forge stronger alliances with local social service organizations and public health agencies in addressing the complex health and social needs of Medicaid beneficiaries, including paying for nonmedical services needed by these beneficiaries. The study uses a sequential mixed-method research design to assess how well CalAIM succeeds in integrating social service and public health organizations into Medicaid systems of care, with a specific focus on Black, Indigenous, LatinX, and other persons of color. Activities include surveys of community organizations in 20 counties combined with in-depth case studies in five counties. The study is conducted by the University of California at San Francisco in collaboration with 211 San Diego, United Way local affiliates, Health Leads, and other community partners.

Principal Investigators: 
Caroline Fichtenberg, PhD
Research Scientist, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Co-Director, SIREN

Co-Investigators: 
Holly Wing, MA
Project Manager, SIREN, University of California, San Francisco

Abigail Arons, MD, MPAff
Clinical Fellow, National Clinician Scholars Program, Division of General Internal Medicine at ZSFG, University of California, San Francisco

Rohan Rastogi, MD, MPH
Clinical Fellow, National Clinician Scholars Program, Division of General Internal Medicine at ZSFG, University of California, San Francisco

Community Partners:
Shelly Parks, LCSW
CIE National Program Coordinator, 211/CIE San Diego

Sheena Nahm McKinlay, PhD, MPH
VP of Research & Development, Health Leads

Karis Grounds
VP of Health and Community Impact, 211/CIE San Diego

Project Details:

Year: 2023
Funding Amount: $499,915
Status: Active