2026 Summer Intern Project: Exploring Culture, Language, and Mental Health
As part of his summer internship at RAMS, Jonathan explored how culture and language shape the way people understand, access, and experience mental health care. In a two-part interview series, he spoke with two RAMS leaders whose work brings different perspectives to culturally responsive care: Dennielle Kronenberg, LCSW, PPSC, Director of the RAMS Training Institute, and Hoi In (Cruz) Chan, LMFT, RDT, PAT, Clinical Manager of RAMS’ Healing for Asians program.
Dennielle Kronenberg, LCSW, PPSC
As Director of the RAMS Training Institute, Dennielle brings extensive experience in social work, behavioral health training, and workforce development. In her conversation with Jonathan, she reflects on RAMS’ history of developing a multilingual and culturally responsive behavioral health workforce, the role of language and community in connecting people to care, and opportunities to strengthen cross-cultural learning and support for bilingual professionals.
Hoi In (Cruz) Chan, LMFT, RDT, PAT
Cruz is a Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking therapist and Clinical Manager of RAMS’ Healing for Asians program, which provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services for Asian community members impacted by violence and other traumatic experiences. She speaks with Jonathan about the importance of receiving care in a language people feel comfortable using, the role of cultural understanding in mental health services, and how education and community outreach can help reduce stigma and make support more accessible.
