Listening Session Highlights Barriers to Providing Mental Health Services For Immigrant Children & Non-English Speakers

Despite the requirement that all mental health provider organizations in the State of Maryland that accept federal funding for their programs must provide free interpretation and translation services for youth of immigrant families, many do not provide the services. Clinical professionals with Centro SOL, the Center for Salud/Health and Opportunity for Latinos, report routine difficulties finding mental health professionals who will provide appointments for youth in Spanish-speaking families, even when the youth have or are eligible for Medicaid coverage. Centro SOL reported numerous instances in which a mental health clinical professional refused to provide an appointment for Spanish . . .