The Asian and Pacific Islander Health Parity Coalition (APIHPC) aims to promote healthy Asian & Pacific Islander communities by providing education on mental health issues, de-stigmatizing mental illness and help-seeking behaviors, advancing workforce development, and promoting culturally-relevant services. The coalition is comprised of 20+ organizations that include the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Samoan, Southeast Asian, and Korean communities. The communities’ needs span a wide range of cultures, customs, languages, and health disparities.
The APIHPC was established in 2006 through a Mental Health Services Act position paper to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The paper’s initiative was to ensure the API community would benefit from the expansion of culturally appropriate mental health services. Since the inception of the coalition, the APIHPC has advocated for different health equity issues and joined efforts with other communities of color to advocate for health equity.
APIHPC plays a vital role in promoting API health equity through:
- Partnership with the San Francisco Health Improvement Partnership (SFHIP) – APIHPC actively contributes to policy discussions, decision-making, and the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) conducted every three years, advocating for API health needs and perspectives.
- Direct Communication with the Department of Public Health (DPH) & S.F. Soda Tax Commission – Engaging in dialogue and advocacy efforts to address API health concerns at the local level.
- Legislative Awareness & Advocacy – Sharing information, inviting guest speakers, and engaging with community partners to stay informed on state and local policies affecting API health and wellness, such as data disaggregation, community mental health, and public health initiatives.
The APIHPC’s Goals:
- Identify health and healthcare disparities
- Increase access to care for API community
- Increase capacity of providers
- Link API providers, coordinate services, and identify key resources
- Gather and analyze data
- Monitor and evaluate the cultural competence of systems of care
- Develop and advocate for policy recommendations
- Expand and increase the bi-lingual and bi-cultural healthcare workforce
API Health Parity Coalition Members:
- APA Family Resource Center
- Cambodian Community Development Inc.
- Chinatown Child Development Center
- Chinatown YMCA
- Community Youth Center
- Filipino American Development Foundation
- Nancy Lim-Yee
- NICOS Chinese Health Coalition
- North East Medical Services
- On Lok Senior Health Services
- Richmond Area Multi-services
- Samoan Community Development Center
- Southeast Asian Development Center
- South of Market Community Action Network
- UCSF Center for Community Engagement
- Vietnamese Family Services Center
API Health Parity Coalition (APIHPC) & API Council Partnership:
As the Health Advisory Committee of the API Council, the API Health Parity Coalition (APIHPC) is a coalition of nonprofit and local health organizations dedicated to advancing API health equity. APIHPC serves as a key partner to the API Council, promoting health-related priorities within broader community advocacy efforts.
APIHPC and API Council maintain a strong partnership to elevate API health equity efforts across the city:
- Regular Leadership Engagement – APIHPC representatives and the API Council Executive Director meet periodically to align strategies and priorities.
- Shared Communication & Advocacy – APIHPC provides expertise on health equity issues within API Council’s broader advocacy work.
- Health Equity Integration – Collaborating to embed health equity in API Council’s strategic initiatives and future objectives.
Through this partnership, APIHPC and the API Council work together to amplify the voices of API communities and advocate for policies and resources that promote equitable health outcomes for all.