FAQ

The BrightLife Kids experience

A kid on an ipad in session

Sessions with behavioral health experts

An illusatration of chat bubbles

Video sessions available in 19 languages

A provider on a desktop computer waving their hand

Coach Specialists to help you find the right care

An image of a stack of books

Digital library of articles and videos

Frequently asked questions

BrightLife Kids is for any family living in California with kids 0-12 years old. Parents and caregivers can turn to BrightLife Kids for peer support and expert advice on how to handle behavioral challenges while teaching resilience, problem-solving, and communication. Kids benefit from resources and coaching that teach them how to manage worries, how to express big feelings like sadness, anger, or frustration in healthy ways, and how to navigate complicated or confusing social situations.

No. Insurance is not needed to use the BrightLife Kids program.

Yes. BrightLife Kids is a program that is entirely paid for by the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). The CYBHI is a $4.7B package of investments initiated by Governor Gavin Newsom to support California’s kids. The goal is to give kids and families the opportunity to receive expert behavioral health support in an easy-to-access, digital format, at no cost to the families.

We offer personalized support, content, and resources for parents/caregivers of kids 0–12 years old.

Our partner Kooth has created a no-cost program called Soluna that was built to support youth from 13–25 years old. Please visit SolunaApp.com to get more information.

School counselors are a great in-person resource, especially for high-needs kids who need academic, career, and personal support. They also help every other student, every day. But sometimes issues or questions come up after school, on weekends, and over holidays. Or there might be times when you need to talk to someone about behavior, but the school counselor isn’t available. Think of BrightLife Kids — with our on-demand resources and video coaching — as an extra layer of support at no cost. We help boost the support at school by helping with family, relationships, and your child’s overall emotional development. Parents/caregivers and kids can get advice or information 24/7 from our library of articles and videos. They can also send a secure message to their coach anytime or schedule a private video coaching session from home, school, or wherever they are.

BrightLife Kids is an added layer of behavioral health support for students and families. School counselors or primary care providers can direct kids and families to BrightLife Kids for help and guidance. However, parents/caregivers and kids do not need a formal referral from anyone to access the program.

Virtual care for kids and their parents/caregivers has been found to be just as effective as in-person care, especially for common concerns like managing worries, sadness, anger, sleep, or tantrums. When in-person care is needed for situations that need an immediate or intensive response, or if a coach’s assessment determines a different level of care is required, BrightLife Kids will guide members to the right care in the community.

BrightLife Kids is committed to providing our families with diverse and inclusive care. Our coaches are bilingual in English and Spanish. They come from diverse backgrounds (just like the families they work with) and are sensitive to different cultures, traditions, and ways of life. Coaches also have experience working with LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and gender-diverse populations. And BrightLife Kids has partnered with Violet to make sure our coaches have the right training.

Yes. We have coaches who are bilingual (English/Spanish) and we offer live translation services that cover 17 other languages* for parents/caregivers who need it. Some of our on-demand digital resources are also available in both English and Spanish.

*Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Armenian, Russian, Farsi, Japanese, Arabic, Cambodian, Hindi, Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Punjabi, Mien, and Ukrainian

Yes, we ask that parents/caregivers complete the registration process for their kids.

Free coaching for CA families & kids 0–⁠12

an illustration of the state of California with a family in front of it
Access to live
1-on-1 video coaching

What is BrightLife Kids coaching?

Illustration of a coaching session: a child and parent looking at a coach on a video call.

It's an online coaching program paid for by the state of California. Our expert coaches help parents and kids up to age 12 with common, everyday concerns like sleep issues, tantrums, worries, and much more.

  • Weekly 30-minute Zoom sessions
  • Set goals and learn tools
  • Build confidence and skills
,
group coaching

What is BrightLife Kids group coaching?

Illustration for the Foundations of Fatherhood group coaching program

Want support navigating your new parenting journey? Join our coach-facilitated weekly sessions along with other new dads.

Who is this for?

Anyone who identifies as a male parent/caregiver of a child age 0–2. (Not for you, but want to invite your partner / another caregiver for your child?)

What's group coaching?

You'll meet weekly online and explore topics with other parents and caregivers. These sessions are facilitated by a coach with behavioral health expertise who can provide skills and facilitate the discussion so it is helpful to you.

Session topics

  • The inner dad

    Being a dad to a baby or toddler is a new role, and nobody hands you a script for it. When you feel unsure for a sustained amount of time, that stress can feel like an actual threat to your brain. That’s why our first session is all about understanding and regulating responses. It creates space between whatever is happening and your reaction to it.

  • The connected dad

    The truth is, your child doesn’t expect a perfect dad. Showing up, showing you care, and loving your child in your way is just what they need. Our second session talks dads through practical strategies for being present as they connect in small, everyday interactions with their baby or toddler.

  • The partnered dad

    The first year with a new baby sees sleep, roles, and expectations all change at once — fast — with no rest. Taking care of yourself, and of whoever is parenting with you, is one of the best things you can do for your child. This session focuses on teaching new dads how to slow down and nurture the support system they have in place.

  • The future-focused dad

    Your child might be too young to understand all of your words. But from day one, they feel your energy, see your facial expressions, and watch how you handle life. The fourth and final group session walks dads through identifying values and reflecting on the legacy they want to create through everyday choices.

Coaches

Coach information is not available right now.

for parents/caregivers, secure chat, and evidence-based support tools.

No cost. No referral. No insurance required. All from home.


Terms of Service

Loading…
and

Privacy Policy

Loading…

Already have an account?

Log in