Kaiser Permanente’s Bilingual Spanish-English Specialty Program has been awarded the esteemed 2025 Apple Award, recognizing the organization’s dedication to excellence in education and innovation in mental health training. The Apple Awards are part of Kaiser Permanente’s annual recognition initiative, celebrating individuals and programs that deliver transformational learning experiences across the organization.
This year, the Bilingual Specialty Program, a key component of the NorCal Mental Health Training Program, was honored for its exceptional contributions to culturally responsive care and its innovative impact on mental health training throughout the Northern California Region.
Initially developed by Patrizia Meunier, LMFT, as a supplemental training for Postmaster Fellows at the Oakland Medical Center, the program has evolved into a comprehensive regional initiative. Through the collaborative leadership of Patrizia Meunier, LMFT, Veronica Ochoa, LCSW, and Jorge Becerra, LCSW, the program is now accessible to all Postmaster and Doctorate-level trainees across Northern California.
This specialty training equips clinicians to provide evidence-based therapeutic services in Spanish while being sensitive to the cultural values, worldviews, and lived experiences of Latino communities. Emphasis is placed on factors such as country of origin, level of acculturation, and other sociocultural dynamics that influence clinical engagement and outcomes.
The 2025 Bilingual Spanish-English Specialty Training is scheduled to run from October 21, 2024, to August 21, 2025, and includes:
- 32 hours of didactic instruction in Spanish, focusing on behavioral health frameworks such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—each adapted to better serve Latino populations.
- 32 hours of weekly case consultations in Spanish, providing participants with the opportunity to develop culturally informed clinical judgment with support from expert bilingual clinical supervisors.
The Mental Health Training Program has consistently demonstrated excellence in mental health training, as evidenced by their multiple recognitions with the prestigious Apple Award. In 2022, they were honored with the Apple Award for Best Use of Performance Support for their innovative development of the NCAL Mental Health Training Program Virtual Training Library. This accolade underscores the unwavering dedication and commitment of their leadership team to advancing mental health education and support.
Receiving the 2025 Apple Award is a significant milestone for the team and highlights Kaiser Permanente’s dedication to high-quality, inclusive care and the continuous professional growth of its mental health workforce.
Contributed by: Veronica Ochoa, LCSW, BCD; Patrizia Meunier, LMFT; and Jorge, PSW MFT LPCC
