Gift Expands Free Speech Therapy for Stockton Children

California Scottish Rite
Oct 29
2 min read

A child dressed in a firefighter costume enjoys playtime with his mother at the Stockton clinic's colorful and engaging playroom.

For more than four decades, families in Stockton have turned to the RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Stockton for help with speech, language, and literacy challenges—always at no cost to them.

With over $1 million in giving from the California Scottish Rite Foundation (CASRF) we are expanding that life-changing access even further.

“There are so many speech and language needs in the Stockton community. The foundation’s support will allow us to grow our program, get more clinicians working with families, and get more kids’ needs met,”— Ashley Kramer ’10, ’11, Clinic Director and Assistant Clinical Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of the Pacific.

Transformative Therapy through Partnership

Since 1982, the University of the Pacific has operated the Stockton clinic, where student clinicians provide individualized therapy while gaining real-world experience.

Under faculty supervision, students begin by observing sessions and progress to independently conducting intakes, developing treatment plans, and tracking progress reports.

This partnership means children receive expert care while students gain the clinical hours needed to become the next generation of compassionate, well-trained speech-language pathologists.

“Pacific is a valuable partner because they provide student clinicians who get to learn hands-on, and their expertise allows us to keep up with the growth of the profession,”— Roger Moore, Trustee, California Scottish Rite Foundation.“In my mind, this partnership is a win-win—and the children are the big winners.”

Donor-Funded Impact: Meeting a Growing Need

The demand for speech and language services in Stockton continues to grow. In 2024 alone, Pacific student clinicians served more than 400 children, yet waitlists remain long.

Private therapy can cost $200–$300 for an assessment and $150 per hour for treatment—costs that often make therapy out of reach for many families. CASRF funding removes those barriers, ensuring that every child can find their voice, regardless of circumstance.

“Long-term partnerships like the one we have with California Scottish Rite are crucial,” said Nicoleta Bugnariu, Dean of Pacific’s School of Health Sciences.“Students become well-rounded clinicians while delivering sorely needed services in our communities.”

Lifelong Confidence for Children and Families

The clinic not only provides therapy—it also empowers parents. Families learn to advocate for their children and access resources that support communication growth at home and in school.

“Pacific’s partnership with Scottish Rite merges two of the university’s core commitments: providing experiential learning opportunities for students and serving the underserved in our community,”— Christopher Callahan, President, University of the Pacific.

Community-Driven Care in Action

The California Scottish Rite Foundation operates 19 RiteCare Childhood Language Centers across California—seven of which are university partnerships. Each location offers life-changing, donor-funded therapy for children ages 2–18 with speech-language and literacy challenges stemming from developmental, neurological, or medical conditions.

Together, we’re building a future where every child can be heard, understood, and confident.