Archive for the ‘News’ Category

October 19, 2011

Rob Nichols, (330) 760-7582, Rob.Nichols@governor.ohio.gov

KASICH ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER ADVISORY COUNCIL

COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich made the following appointments to the Asian American Pacific Islander Advisory Council for a term beginning October 19, 2011 and continuing at the pleasure of the Governor:

Michael Byun of Akron (Summit Co.)

Tom Lun-nap Chung of Cincinnati (Hamilton Co.)

Jeff J. Guo of Mason (Warren Co.)

Vi Huynh of Richmond Heights (Cuyahoga Co.)

Ron Katsuyama of Dayton (Montgomery Co.)

Yung-Chen Lu of Columbus (Franklin Co.)*

Cora C. Munoz of Worthington (Franklin Co.)

Rebecca Nelson of Columbus (Franklin Co.)

Richard A. Paat of Perrysburg (Wood Co.)

Bounthanh Phommasathit of Pickerington (Fairfield Co.)

Radhika Reddy of Seven Hills (Cuyahoga Co.)

Keith W. Tickle of Fairborn (Greene Co.)

* Lu will serve as Chair of the committee.

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For immediate release
September 20, 2011
Press contact: Robin Nau (440) 554-6253; robin@asiainc-ohio.org

HHS awards Affordable Care Act funds for ASIA to become a community health center

 
CLEVELAND – Asian Services In Action is pleased to announce a grant award of $80,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to plan to become a community health center.  This funding, made available by the Affordable Care Act, will support ASIA’s planning efforts to develop a future health center in Cleveland’s AsiaTown neighborhood.

The proposed health center will serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and other low-income, underserved minorities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Ohio who are uninsured or have Medicaid and who face language and cultural barriers to health care services.

Access to health care is a serious concern among Cuyahoga County’s growing AAPI population, highlighted by AAPI residents who regularly take buses to New York City for culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services. The health center planning grant will provide ASIA the funding to focus on a comprehensive community planning process for the future creation of a community health center.

“The Health Center Planning Grants help organizations plan to become health centers,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.  “These awards demonstrate HRSA’s commitment to expanding access to quality preventive and primary health care in high need areas across the country.”

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), a national primary care association, will provide technical assistance to ASIA for this grant project.  “AAPCHO is pleased to have the opportunity to continue working with Michael Byun, Executive Director and ASIA Board and staff in addressing the language and cultural needs of our medically underserved Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in the Midwest region,” said AAPCHO’s Executive Director, Jeffrey Caballero.

Asian Services In Action’s mission is to empower Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Northeastern Ohio to access quality, culturally, and linguistically appropriate information and services.  ASIA serves over 8,000 people annually in 30 languages.

The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  HRSA is the primary Federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) is a national association representing community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans & Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

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ASIA’s Executive Director, Michael Byun had the privilege of meeting President Obama at a private reception at the White House on June 22, 2011.  The reception hosted by Mr. Obama and the First Lady was in celebration of Asian American and
Pacific Islander heritage.

Also in attendance from the Ohio delegation were Yen Luong, ASIA Board member, Vi Huynh, President of MotivAsian, Manju Sankarappa, Executive Director of the Ohio Asian American Health Coalition, and Dr. Yung-Chen Lu, Founder of the Columbus Asian Festival and Asian-American Community Service Council and outgoing President of the OAAHC.

For immediate release
August 9, 2011

Press contact: Robin Nau (440) 554-6253; robin@asiainc-ohio.org

ASIA receives grant from Cleveland Foundation to support New Americans

CLEVELAND – Asian Services In Action is pleased to announce a grant award of $127,820 from the Cleveland Foundation to support the New Americans Agricultural Project (NAAP).  This generous funding will enable ASIA to empower low-income newly arriving immigrants and refugees who face language and cultural barriers to harness their native agricultural skills to become self-sufficient.

NAAP represents the next stage of ASIA’s initiative to support individuals, families, and communities to move further along the path toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Participants will receive in-class and hands-on experience with Western farming practices, vocational ESOL, learn from production to distribution, gain knowledge about and engage in the region’s local food movement, farmer’s market and organic farming. Farmland for this project will be provided by Countryside Land Conservancy and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The goals of NAAP are to remove barriers to enable individuals to better acculturate to the region, gain access to employment and economic opportunities, and build skills and knowledge that will ultimately help participants to be self-sufficient and to support their families.  The two-year project aims to enroll 100 individuals.

“We are very pleased to have the support of the Cleveland Foundation for this project.  NAAP offers us an opportunity to support new Americans while contributing to Cleveland’s growing local food scene,” said Michael Byun, ASIA Executive Director.

Asian Services In Action
Founded in 1995, Asian Services In Action’s mission is to empower Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Northeastern Ohio to access quality, culturally, and linguistically appropriate information and services.  ASIA serves over 8,000 people annually.

The Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation and the nation’s second-largest.  The foundation improves the lives of Greater Clevelanders now and for generations to come by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on vital issues.

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Read the Letter to the Editor published in the Akron Beacon Journal on August 2nd.  Michael Byun responds to Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor regarding Ohio’s health insurance exchange program.