Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Program

I. Program Information 

Background 

In the summer of 2024, the Chico State School of Social Work received $5.6 million from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) for a 5-year period (7/1/2024-6/30/2029) to create a bilingual training program aimed at increasing the number of Spanish and Hmong-speaking clinical providers in the North State. 

Purpose 

The Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Training Program aims to: 

• Educate and prepare bilingual Spanish and Hmong-speaking MSW students to provide clinical behavioral health services to children, youth, and their families through age 25. 

• Recruit culturally and linguistically diverse MSW students that reflect the sociodemographic and other characteristics of underserved and historically excluded groups in the North State. 
• Implement a bilingual program to train and enhance the skills of Spanish and Hmong- speaking MSW students in delivering culturally and linguistically responsive behavioral health services to their communities. 

Stipend Award 

Recipients of the Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Training Program will receive a stipend to support their academic and training activities. 

• Full-time students: $25,000.00 for the academic year 
  • $12,500 will be disbursed mid- to late Fall term 
  • $12,500 will be disbursed during Spring term 

• Half-time students: $12,500.00 for the academic year 
  • $6,250 will be disbursed mid- to late Fall term 
  • $6,250 will be disbursed during Spring term 

There is NO post-graduation service obligation tied to this stipend, but the expectation is that recipients will utilize their training to serve the North State post-graduation. 

 II. Student Eligibility and Requirements

The Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Training Program seeks bilingual Spanish and Hmong-speaking MSW students who demonstrate: 

• Interest in and commitment to learning about the issues, challenges and needs specific to behavioral health care practice in public service settings within their cultural and linguistic communities. 

• Linguistic and cultural competencies that align with the needs of underserved and historically excluded communities in Northern CA. 
• Strong and sustained commitment to social work careers in California’s behavioral health care systems, programs and settings in Northern California. 

Eligibility 

The application is open to Spanish and Hmong-speaking MSW students that are: 

1. Enrolled in our Chico State MSW program as full time, part-time or advanced standing students, in face-to-face, or hybrid formats. 
2. Matched/matching with practicum placements for the training year in behavioral health care sites/programs. 
3. Not receiving funding support from CalSWEC Title-IVE, CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health and Adult Protective Services Training Program, and any other HCAI administered training, stipend or scholarship program. 

 MSW students may participate in the Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Training Program for up to three academic years, but acceptance for one year does not guarantee acceptance for additional years. 

III. Program Requirements 

 Once accepted into the Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Training Program, recipients of the award must sign a Student Agreement acknowledging the following: 

1. Completing their practicum placement in the North State. 
2. Working in an agency/organization that provides behavioral health services to underserved communities within the following 22 counties: Amador, Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, and Yuba. 
3. Attending all required meetings, trainings, workshops, and learning communities. 
   • Biweekly learning support communities 
   • Monthly (sometimes bi-monthly) meetings, trainings, and workshops
4. Participating in ongoing program evaluation during schooling and for at least one year post-graduation. 
5. Not accepting funding support from Title IV-E, Public Behavioral Health, Adult Protective Services Training Program, or any other HCAI-administered training, stipend, or scholarship program 

 IV. Application Process

DUE DATE: Monday, April 21st at 5pm (PT) 

Application Components: 

1. Application Form – [Apply here for the 2025-2026 academic year] 
2. Resume 
3. Three Short Essay Responses (300-word limit per response) 

For questions, please contact Judy Vang, PhD at tvang@csuchico.edu.