Asian Health Services Community Healing Initiative

Vesper Society believes a just society begins when everyone is well and respected as a human being. This month we asked Julia Liou, MPH and Thu Quach, PhD to talk about the Community Healing Initiative at Asian Health Services in Oakland, CA.

What is the context for the Community Healing Initiative?

These past three years tested our resilience and our ability to adapt while continuing to be grounded in serving and advocating for our patients and community. Not only were we blamed for COVID, but our patients and communities were overlooked and ignored.

We saw our mental health visits increase by 2.5 times. There was a meteoric rise in anti-Asian hate and violence where incidents increased by 300%. There were significant gaps in Alameda County for limited English proficient Asian immigrants and refugees to receive victim support services and violence prevention interventions. As a result, Asian Health Services launched the Community Healing Initiative (CHI).

What does the Initiative do?

We are one of three pilot Anti-Asian hate action centers in partnership with the Asian American Foundation. As part of CHI, we provide direct services for survivors of hate and violence. Fear and trauma are directly linked to the health and well-being of our community. Our therapists, social workers, and lay counselors provide mental health counseling and systems navigation.

Survivors experience many challenges such as a reporting process that retraumatizes, lack of communication by law enforcement and government agencies, stigma related to mental health therapy, social isolation, and intergenerational trauma. That is why we provide case management, victim assistance funds, and legal referrals.

What are some new partnerships and services you have been able to offer?

We are now able to offer alternative forms of healing such as Tai Chi, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, and food – all of which complement our traditional healthcare services. We are excited about our partnerships with Uber Eats, a yoga movement instructor, massage therapists, and acupuncture practitioners to provide these important cultural healing activities.

What other community-wide partnerships have you implemented?

The enormity of the issues of violence and racism gave us pause to assess and understand the issues of intra-community violence, cross-racial organizing, and addressing public safety. We established partnerships with other organizations serving different racial ethnic communities, including celebrating Lunar New Year and Black History Month together.

We intentionally create shared space to promote learning and solidarity. It is our hope that we can foster city, county, and state partnerships to increase resources, coordination, collaboration, and community resiliency.

What inspires you?

The leadership and dedication of our CHI team has been amazing. In the past 18 months, the CHI team provided direct services to over 200 survivors of crime, hate, and violence.

“Speaking to an AHS counselor was the first time my mom opened up about her feelings, about her pain and some of the trauma she’s gone through. Because of AHS, [my parents] felt like someone believed in them and would be there to help them, and that allowed them to open up more to allow for healing to come in.” – Lily Chan

We are inspired by Lily and her family. The deep resilience of our patients will continue to guide us forward towards a path of collective humanity.

Vesper is proud to walk alongside Asian Health Services. In doing so, we are closer to our vision of a world that protects human dignity and enhances human potential.