To create true, positive impact in helping build stronger Asian families and thus a safer and healthier overall community, NMAFC believes in taking a holistic, community-based approach to individual and public health. In doing so, the agency employs the following tenets to ensure the delivery of customized, quality services and programming for the Asian community:
Inclusive Community Organizing and Participation
New Mexico’s Asian population is extremely diverse and fragmented and often times left out of important policy decisions that directly affect their community. To create true community engagement, NMAFC strives to build an environment that encourages active civic participation by giving parents the tools and resources necessary to become more involved in their children’s schools and lives; to organize the Asian community in able to mobilize them to action such as through voting, educating legislators and representatives about issues in their communities, and advocating for their rights in their various spheres of school, work, and social life; and to provide avenues in which to amplify voice for the Asian community through volunteerism, internships, and employment opportunities.
Additionally, the agency utilizes an anti-oppression model and designs programming based on the voiced needs of the community. NMAFC board of directors and staff members reflect the population in which it serves. To learn how to become more involved with NMAFC, please view the following links:
Providing Culturally Appropriate Services
Many times, Asians that present at NMAFC have already failed at a number of mainstream agencies because of the lack of cultural and linguistic ability to fully address the needs of this community. This continues to be a demonstrative example of why culturally appropriate services are a needed resource within communities. To help Asian immigrants, refugees, and their families integrate into American life, NMAFC provides free direct services such as case management, individual and family counseling, smoking and gambling cessation, and legal consultation and representation with the goals of elevating individuals to become self-sufficient, productive members of society and creating a strong, unified Asian community that can advocate for its self. Staff members can provide services in the following languages:
- English
- Vietnamese
- Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese
- Japanese
- Malay
- Taiwanese
- Thai
- Lao
- Tagalog
If another language is needed, a network of community interpreters is utilized when appropriate. In addition, NMAFC has access to phone interpreters.
Prioritizing Prevention Through Education
With increased capacity, NMAFC has expanded to include prevention into agency programming in order to create community level change. By taking an upstream approach and addressing social determinants of health, defined by the World Health Organization as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, preventative measures can be taken before individual issues can further manifest into public health matters. NMAFC engages in targeted outreach to the Asian community through hands on workshops, presentations, community events, and hosting discussions in different Asian languages where meaningful dialogue can occur. Because most Asians take on the Eastern view of family to include extended family, neighbors, and friends, these conversations and activities emphasize the importance of family and community health in relation to the health of the individual. To learn more about prevention programs through NMAFC, please explore the various links below:
Cross-Sectoral Collaboration
Coordination and partnership with local and national programs across sectors is key to minimize the gaps that immigrants, refugees, and other vulnerable communities and individuals face when navigating various U.S. systems. NMAFC has established working relationships with a number of organizations including service providers, state and federal agencies, funding agencies, public health departments, legal consultants, and first responders in order to create a more effective referral system both into and out of NMAFC accordingly. NMAFC is a part of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, an organization that unites a national network of Asian and Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian organizations to ensure national collaboration. Additionally, the agency is one of thirteen on-site partners located at Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center, a one stop shop for victims/survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault.
Increasing Access to Resources and Opportunities
Vulnerable communities face a number of barriers to resources and opportunities because of the number of systematic discrimination confronting them on an everyday occurrence. To decrease these barriers, NMAFC advocates for language access for limited English proficient individuals as well as fair and equal treatment in settings such as hospitals, schools, and courts. Staff members hold trainings, presentations, and individual sessions to educate Asians about their rights in order to help them better succeed in America. If you believe you have been a victim of national origin discrimination (defined as discrimination based on a person’s birthplace, ancestry, culture or language) or would like more information about your rights, contact NMAFC today.