Arden Shore Awarded Grant to Strengthen Bilingual Mental Health Workforce
Arden Shore Child and Family Services is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) to expand and strengthen the bilingual children’s mental health workforce in Lake County. This grant will support our Behavioral Health Clinical Internship Program, equipping the next generation of bilingual clinicians to provide trauma-informed care for newly arrived children and families.
Through this initiative, Arden Shore will recruit and train bilingual behavioral health graduate-level interns and recent graduates, ensuring they receive the clinical supervision and specialized training necessary to address the unique needs of immigrant children. This funding allows us to further our commitment to culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate mental health services, removing barriers to care for Spanish-speaking families.
Why This Grant Matters
Illinois has welcomed thousands of newly arrived individuals since August 2022, many of whom are Spanish-speaking children in need of mental health services. However, Illinois faces a severe shortage of bilingual behavioral health professionals. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Illinois has only 13.8 behavioral health professionals per 10,000 residents, compared to a national average of 21.4. Additionally, the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center reports that there is no statewide data on the number or location of bilingual clinicians, reinforcing the urgent need for more bilingual mental health providers.
To address this gap, ILCHF launched the Strengthening the Bilingual Mental Health Workforce Initiative, funding organizations like Arden Shore to expand bilingual supervision and training opportunities, increasing the pipeline of licensed bilingual clinicians.
In a joint statement, Dr. Dora Maya, outgoing CEO, and Maria Velasquez, incoming CEO, shared:
“For 25 years, Arden Shore has evolved to meet the needs of children and families, and this grant represents the next step in that journey,” said Dr. Dora Maya. “By expanding the bilingual behavioral health workforce, we are ensuring that Spanish-speaking children receive the care they need to heal and thrive.”
“As I step into leadership at Arden Shore, I am committed to continuing this vital work,” added Maria Velasquez. “This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to equity and access, ensuring that every child and family feels seen, heard, and supported.”
A Collaborative Approach to Community Impact
This initiative is made possible through a strong partnership with Hispanic American Community Education and Services (HACES), which serves thousands of immigrant families annually. HACES will play a key role in identifying and referring Spanish-speaking children in need of mental health services while Arden Shore’s interns provide the care and support they need to thrive.
Maria Elena Jonas, Executive Director of HACES, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration:
“We are excited to partner with Arden Shore to ensure that newly arrived children and families receive the compassionate, culturally responsive mental health support they need. This program is a critical step toward closing the gap in bilingual behavioral health services in Lake County.”
Arden Shore’s Director of Behavioral Health, Judith Legoretta, also emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“This funding allows us to build a stronger, more sustainable bilingual workforce—one that reflects the needs of the community and provides high-quality, trauma-informed care to children who have experienced extraordinary challenges. We are grateful to ILCHF for their support in making this possible.”