Stonebridge Counseling | Application Preview
Stonebridge Counseling is seeking government grant funding to expand its impact in rural and underserved communities through accessible, bilingual mental health care and workforce development.
They plan to use the funds primarily for two key initiatives:
1. Community Care Division: Offers affordable or free therapy to those facing insurance challenges, financial hardship, or language and cultural barriers. This effort addresses critical gaps in care for vulnerable populations in rural regions with a shortage of mental health providers.
2. Clinician Training Academy: A structured pipeline for training and mentoring new therapists, emphasizing trauma-informed, culturally competent care. This strengthens the mental health workforce and ensures long-term service sustainability.
The organization’s five-year plan focuses on expanding access to care, scaling clinician training through in-person and telehealth services, diversifying revenue streams, leveraging technology for operational efficiency, and deepening community engagement. A nonprofit arm will be established to attract more grants and donations, while strategic partnerships and new service lines will create financial resilience.
Founder Dania Heng brings lived experience, professional expertise, and a deep understanding of the communities served. Her resilient leadership and firsthand knowledge of systemic barriers inform the organization’s mission and operational model.
What sets Stonebridge apart is its bilingual services, commitment to affordability, rapid access to care, and long-term therapy offerings—services often missing from county agencies, private practices, and federally qualified health centers. Unlike competitors, they also run a robust Training Academy to address the behavioral health workforce shortage.
Their internal infrastructure supports high staff retention, continuous growth, and clinical excellence through active mentorship and leadership development. The culture is mission-driven, emphasizing equity, compassion, and impact.
Stonebridge Counseling is uniquely positioned as both a service provider and a workforce development engine. Their scalable approach, community trust, and hybrid nonprofit-for-profit model make them a compelling investment for funders focused on health equity, rural care access, and long-term mental health solutions.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 4792213
Location: Chico, CA, United States
Length of Operation: 6-10
Number of Employees: 26-50 Employees
Annual Gross Income: $1M to $10M
Annual Gross Expense: $1M to $10M
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
Funding Reason / Purpose of Funding We are seeking funding to expand our Community Care Division, which provides low-cost and no-cost mental health services to individuals and families who face barriers to accessing care due to insurance disruptions, Medi-Cal changes, financial hardship, or lack of coverage. Our region is a rural community with a significant shortage of mental health providers, making access to timely, culturally responsive care extremely limited. These access gaps place vulnerable individuals at greater risk for untreated mental health conditions and long-term instability. Funding will also support the expansion of our Clinician Training Academy, a workforce development initiative that offers structured on-the-job training, clinical supervision, mentorship, and evidence-based practice education for emerging therapists. This program strengthens the behavioral health workforce and increases the number of qualified clinicians available to serve rural, underserved populations. A foundational component of our mission is to ensure care is linguistically and culturally accessible. We offer bilingual Spanish–English services, allowing us to serve families who often struggle to find providers who can communicate in their primary language and understand the cultural context of their needs. Together, the Community Care Division and Training Academy create a sustainable ecosystem of care by: Providing equity-centered therapy to individuals who cannot rely on consistent insurance coverage. Increasing access in a rural area with limited provider availability. Expanding bilingual mental health services for Spanish-speaking clients. Training future clinicians to meet the growing demand for culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. Ensuring continuity of services for marginalized and high-need populations. Funding will allow us to bridge care gaps, strengthen the rural mental health workforce, and expand essential bilingual and low-cost services to the community members who need them most.
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Business Plan
Five-Year Growth Plan: Over the next five years, we plan to grow our organization through strategic expansion, workforce development, and increased access to care for underserved communities. Our growth will focus on three interconnected pillars: service expansion, workforce strengthening, and community impact. 1. Expand Access to Mental Health Services Across Rural and Underserved Regions Add additional clinicians and expand our telehealth capacity to serve more clients across California, including rural areas with limited access to care. Increase availability of bilingual (Spanish–English) services to support marginalized communities. Grow our Community Care Division to provide more low-cost and no-cost services, ensuring uninterrupted care despite insurance disruptions. Launch new specialty programs, including youth therapy, crisis-gap support, psychoeducational groups, and culturally specific services. 2. Strengthen and Scale Our Clinical Training Academy by doubling the size of our in person practice. Develop a formal training and teaching program for associate clinicians that integrates supervision, outcome measures, and evidence-based practices. Create a pipeline that moves graduates into full-time roles within our organization, directly strengthening the rural behavioral health workforce. Partner with universities and community colleges to provide internship opportunities and field placements. Expand leadership development for supervisors, program managers, and emerging clinical leaders. 3. Diversify Revenue Streams & Stabilize Long-Term Sustainability Launch our nonprofit arm, Stonebridge Community Counseling Center, to secure grants, donations, and community partnerships. Pursue additional insurance contracts, including Medi-Cal managed care and commercial plans, to increase reimbursement diversity. Develop new service lines such as workshops, group programs, school-based mental health services, and community partnerships. Explore collaboration with counties, healthcare systems, and regional organizations to expand impact and funding opportunities. 4. Invest in Technology, Infrastructure, and Operational Excellence Strengthen digital systems, including EHR optimization, data tracking, AI-assisted intake systems, and quality improvement dashboards. Improve billing efficiency and reduce revenue leakage through standardized processes and staff training. Expand physical office locations and telehealth hubs to meet growing demand. Enhance compliance, reporting, and outcome measurement systems to support grants, contracts, and quality improvement. 5. Increase Community Engagement and Preventative Mental Health Efforts Expand outreach efforts in rural and underserved communities to reduce stigma and increase early intervention. Provide free or low-cost educational workshops, psychoeducational groups, and wellness programs. Partner with schools, nonprofit agencies, and medical providers to extend our reach and build an inclusive, collaborative care model. Continue offering bilingual, culturally responsive services to ensure equitable access. Summary Statement Over the next five years, we will strengthen our workforce, expand access to underserved rural communities, scale our bilingual and culturally responsive services, and build a sustainable, diversified financial model through both our for-profit and nonprofit arms. This dual strategy allows us to grow responsibly, increase capacity, and meet the rising mental health needs of our region. Why Investors Should Invest in Us: Investors should invest in us because our organization is built on a foundation of resilience, vision, and lived experience, paired with a proven ability to create meaningful, sustainable impact. Our Founder and CEO, Dania Heng, is a first-generation Mexican-American woman who grew up in a low-income immigrant household as the oldest of six children. Dania was exposes to the foster care and juvenile justice systems early in her life. She was also the first in her family to attend college, navigating barriers related to poverty, childhood trauma, systemic inequities, and undiagnosed ADHD. Despite these challenges, she not only earned her degrees but built a thriving multi-site mental health organization serving communities that often go overlooked. Her lived experience drives a leadership style rooted in equity, compassion, and determination. She understands firsthand the challenges faced by marginalized families, and she has transformed that understanding into a scalable model of care that bridges critical gaps in underserved and rural communities. Under her leadership, we have created a workforce excellence model that attracts, supports, and retains top clinical talent. Our structured supervision, bilingual service capacity, leadership pathways, and innovative Training Academy give emerging clinicians the guidance, mentorship, and professional development they need to thrive. This internal ecosystem not only strengthens care quality but also builds the next generation of culturally responsive mental health providers. Investors can trust that their support fuels an organization with: A proven track record of growth across multiple locations and service lines A diversified and sustainable revenue model (Medi-Cal, commercial insurance, cash pay, low-cost service funding) A workforce pipeline that directly addresses the statewide behavioral health shortage A community-centered mission rooted in expanding access to bilingual and culturally informed services A resilient founder who has repeatedly turned barriers into breakthroughs We are not simply building a business we are building a community impact engine that trains the next generation of mental health providers, expands access in rural regions, and ensures that underserved families are never left behind due to insurance disruptions or systemic gaps. Investing in us means investing in: A founder with a history of perseverance and leadership A growing organization with proven operational excellence A diverse, bilingual workforce A rural community in need of expanded mental health care A scalable model that elevates both access and workforce development We have demonstrated the capacity, vision, and momentum to continue expanding — and with investor support, we can accelerate our impact across the region and beyond.
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Self Identified Competition
Top 3 Competitors Although we view many local providers as collaborators rather than competitors, there are three types of organizations in our region that offer overlapping services. Understanding their strengths helps clarify our unique value and the gaps we fill. 1. Large County-Contracted Mental Health Agencies Butte County Behavioral Health + similar regional county systems Strengths: Provide crisis services, psychiatry, and intensive care Funded through county and state systems Large infrastructure and established community presence Limitations: Long waitlists High thresholds for care (often only serve severe cases) Limited availability for ongoing therapy Limited bilingual access and cultural responsiveness in rural areas How We Differ: We fill the gap between high-acuity county services and low-acuity private care, offering faster access, bilingual services, and trauma-informed therapy for individuals who do not qualify for county-level care but still need support. 2. Private Therapy Group Practices & Clinics Examples: Traditional private practices in Chico, Sacramento, and surrounding areas Strengths: Offer individual therapy and specialty services Often serve commercial insurance and cash-pay clients Established clinician networks Limitations: Many do not accept Medi-Cal Limited sliding-scale or low-cost options Smaller training infrastructure Longer waitlists for bilingual clients Less presence in rural communities How We Differ: We accept Medi-Cal, offer low-cost/no-cost services, and maintain a strong bilingual workforce. We also operate a Training Academy that builds a pipeline of new clinicians — something most private practices do not offer. 3. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Examples: Ampla Health, Adventist Health/Feather River, community clinics offering behavioral health Strengths: Provide integrated medical + behavioral health Sliding scale options Serve large rural populations Federally funded Limitations: Primarily brief therapy models (short-term, medical-driven) High caseloads and limited session frequency Difficulty recruiting and retaining bilingual clinicians Less flexibility for long-term or trauma-focused work How We Differ: We offer consistent weekly therapy, culturally informed care, and long-term trauma treatment, which FQHCs typically cannot provide due to volume and structural limits. Our Competitive Advantage Across these three competitor categories, our unique strengths set us apart: Bilingual Spanish-English services Low-cost and no-cost care for the uninsured/underinsured A Training Academy that strengthens the workforce pipeline A diversified revenue model, making services more stable during insurance disruptions Rural accessibility, addressing provider shortages Faster access and reduced wait times A founder with lived experience, cultural insight, and a proven record of building a strong workforce These strengths allow us to serve populations that competitors often cannot adequately reach — making us not just another provider, but a critical community access point for mental health care. Our Competitive Advantage Across these three competitor categories, our unique strengths set us apart: Bilingual Spanish-English services Low-cost and no-cost care for the uninsured/underinsured A Training Academy that strengthens the workforce pipeline A diversified revenue model, making services more stable during insurance disruptions Rural accessibility, addressing provider shortages Faster access and reduced wait times A founder with lived experience, cultural insight, and a proven record of building a strong workforce These strengths allow us to serve populations that competitors often cannot adequately reach making us not just another provider, but a critical community access point for mental health care. We have built a highly effective organizational structure that allows us to hire, develop, and retain top talent across all levels of our company. Our culture prioritizes excellence, collaboration, and continuous growth. We invest deeply in creating a workforce that is not only clinically skilled but also inspired, supported, and equipped to advance in their careers. Through our structured supervision model, leadership pathways, and ongoing training opportunities, staff members receive real-time mentorship, professional development, and hands-on learning that strengthens both clinical competency and long-term career success. This intentional investment in people has created a stable, committed, and high-performing team that delivers exceptional care to the community. Our workforce strategy fosters: High retention through strong support systems and employee engagement Learning and advancement through our Training Academy and leadership development tracks Clinical excellence through consistent supervision, outcome measures, and evidence-based practice training. A mission-driven culture where staff feel valued, inspired, and connected to meaningful work This strong internal infrastructure allows us to sustain high-quality services, expand our capacity, and continue meeting the growing mental health needs of our rural and underserved communities.
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