The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), the nation’s only pan-Asian children’s advocacy organization, aims to improve the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American children and families in New York City.
CACF challenges stereotypes of Asian Pacific Americans as a “model minority” and advocates on behalf of underserved families in our community, especially immigrants struggling with poverty and limited English skills. CACF promotes better policies, funding, and services for East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander children, youth, and families.
Our work in the areas of Child Welfare, Education, Health, and Youth Services empowers:
- Youth to become the next generation of neighborhood leaders,
- Parents to take a more active role in their children’s education,
- Service providers to implement quality children’s programs, and
- Policymakers to invest in services for children and families.
We promote equity and access through:
- Policy Advocacy: We advocate for improved policies, funding, and services for Asian Pacific American children and families by targeting elected and appointed officials.
- Youth Leadership: We empower Asian Pacific American youth to be their own advocates.
- Parent Education: We educate Asian Pacific American parents on their rights and responsibilities.
- Research: We conduct original, landmark research to identify needs facing Asian Pacific American families and to provide recommendations to address these needs.
- Capacity Building: We build the capacity of organizations to better serve Asian Pacific American children and families.
- Coalition Building: We bring together organizations to build a stronger pan-Asian voice in New York City policymaking.
advocacy
CACF advocates for improved policies, funding and services for Asian Pacific American children, youth, and families by targeting elected and appointed officials.
CACF participates in legislative visits, hearings, press conferences, budget visits, advisory committees, policy statements, and campaigns to ensure that children of all backgrounds grow up healthy and safe.
Click to read our Advocacy Agenda.
Click to learn more about Advocacy Institutes, our trainings on policy advocacy skills.
Child Welfare Advocacy Project
While the total number of families in the child welfare system has decreased by 50 percent in New York City, the number of Asian Pacific American families in this system has increased during the same time. Unfortunately, there are only 5 Asian Pacific American agencies contracted to provide child abuse prevention services. The Child Welfare Advocacy Project aims to keep Asian Pacific American children safe and families together. In 2006, CACF worked with the Preventive Services Action Network and City Council Member Bill de Blasio to get $4.2 million in the City Budget for community-based preventive service programs to hire more caseworkers.
Click to read related research reports:
Connecting the Dots: Improving Neighborhood-Based Child Welfare Services for Asian Pacific American Families (March 2007; 33 pages)
Crossing the Divide: Asian American Families and The Child Welfare System (January 23, 2002; 24 pages)
Opening the Door: A Survey of the Cultural Competence of Foster Care Preventive Services to Asian and Latino Families in New York City (August 1999; 29 pages)
Education Advocacy Project
One out of every four Asian Pacific American student does not graduate from high school on time or at all, and one out of every five English Language Learner student is Asian Pacific American. The Education Advocacy Project ensures that Asian Pacific American students have the academic and support services to succeed. In 2006, CACF worked with immigrant advocates to get the Mayor to give $12 million to the Department of Education to expand its Translation and Interpretation Unit.
Click to read related research reports:
Hidden in Plain View: An Overview of the Needs of Asian American Students in the Public School System (May 24, 2004; 40 pages)
Health Advocacy Project
One out of every two Asian Pacific American child is born into poverty, but Asian Pacific Americans are underenrolled in state health insurance programs. The Health Advocacy Project aims to improve the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American children, youth, and families. In 2007, $1.3 million in state funding. One out of every five Asian Pacific American in New York City has been uninsured in the past year.
Click to read more about Project CHARGE (Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater Equity), our initiative to expand financial access to health care.
Language Access Task Force
Asian Pacific Americans have the highest rate of linguistic isolation (28 percent) in New York City, meaning that no one over the age of 14 in a household speaks English “very well.” Unfortunately, many city agencies lack translation and interpretation services. CACF launched the Language Access Task Force to ensure that Asian Pacific American families have equal access to needed services. The Task Force is monitoring city agencies capacity to provide translated materials and bilingual staff.
Click to read related research reports:
Building Bridges: Increasing Language Access for the Asian Pacific American Community of New York City (January 2006; 12 pages)
To learn more:
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