The outlet previously reported that Toby Ewing, executive director of the commission, pushed to prevent state legislators from cutting funding for Kooth, a U.K-based mental health company.
The company received $271 million from California to create a free mental health app for California teenagers.
Kooth’s platform, Soluna, and BrightLife Kids, developed by BrightLine Health for children under 12 years old, have had slow uptake since being introduced this year. In June, California budget committee members voted to eliminate funding for the digital platforms, facing a budget deficit in the state, KFF Health News reported.
Funding for Kooth’s app was restored, though it is unclear why, according to KFF Health News. Records show the company paid $15,000 for Mr. Ewing and two members of the oversight and accountability commission to travel to London.
Records show Mr. Ewing asked California legislators to maintain funding for Kooth, KFF Health News reported.
In a statement on its website, Kooth said the commissioners were set to participate in a “long-planned conference,” which was canceled when a UK election was called for July.
“However, what was unchanged was the desire, from the international policy institutes, research foundations and nonprofit organizations involved, to maintain the opportunity to share strategies, experience and learnings to address the global youth mental health epidemic,” the company said in its statement.
Mr. Ewing has been on paid administrative leave following an investigation since September. His resignation will take effect Nov. 22.
California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission oversees the implementation of mental health funding in the state. Mr. Ewing has been executive director since 2015.
Mr. Ewing declined to comment to KFF Health News.
In a statement, Kooth said KFF Health News’s report “fails to raise any legitimate concerns regarding Kooth, its partners or third parties, and simply seeks to undermine the work done by multiple parties within the state to implement a digital mental health strategy to address the youth mental health crisis in California.”
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