In 2012, a mental health needs assessment in San Francisco revealed that Asian and Pacific Islander communities (particularly Cambodians, Filipinos, Laotians, Samoans, and Vietnamese) are most impacted by mental health issues due to the lack of culturally relevant services/resources to meet their unique needs and severe lack of providers from such communities.
To meet this need in San Francisco, the Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative (APIMHC) was established as a coalition between RAMS and six community-based organizations:
Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative (PIWI)
Asian and Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative (APIMHC)
In both San Francisco and Alameda County, RAMS’ Population Focused Prevention and Early Intervention serves primarily Asian and Pacific Islander communities including Mongolians, Cambodians, Filipinos, Laotians, Samoans, Vietnamese, Native Hawaiian, Tongan, and Chamarro/Guamanian.
Through outreach and engagement events that range from small gatherings to large festivals, APIMHC and PIWI reaches over 50,000 individuals across the Bay Area. APIMHC’s and PIWI’s efforts in wellness promotion, screenings and assessments, and service linkages helped hundreds of adults and children learn more about mental health and access the care they need.
Natalie Tualemoso Ah Soon, MPH
Director Population-Focused Programs
(415) 920-3112
natalieahsoon@ramsinc.org
API Mental Health Collaborative
1375 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94121
Tel: (415) 920-3112
Fax: (415) 751-7336
Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative
22712 Foothill Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94541
Tel: (510) 856-9760
Fax: (510) 856-9154
