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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amber Song, Senior Program Coordinator, Mental Health from Asian American Federation
7:17:42
ยท
149 sec
Amber Song from the Asian American Federation testified about the mental health challenges faced by Asian Americans and the work of their organization to address these issues. She highlighted the need for culturally competent community-based organizations and requested funding for various mental health initiatives.
- The Asian American Federation published research reports, served over 2,000 low-income Asian New Yorkers, and advocated for mental health access.
- They plan to expand mental health services, enhance online resources, and develop education programs to decrease stigma.
- Specific funding requests were made for hate crime prevention, immigrant mental health, and culturally relevant mental health services.
Amber Song
7:17:42
Thank you chair Schulman and chair Lee and the committee for the opportunity to testify.
7:17:47
I'm Amber Song from the Asian American Federation representing over 70 non profits serving 1,500,000 Asian New Yorkers.
7:17:54
I'm speaking today alongside our Asian American mental health roundtable partners.
7:17:59
Asian Americans continue to face rising challenges due to anti immigrant policies and ongoing waves of Asian anti Asian hate.
7:18:06
These stressors have exacerbated mental health needs and increased pressure on community based organizations or CBOs.
7:18:13
Without culturally competent CBOs, Asian New Yorkers would face even greater vulnerability and isolation.
7:18:19
AF's expertise in this area is rooted in years of mental health focused work.
7:18:24
Our highlights from fiscal year twenty five include that we published two major research reports and three research briefs on Asian mental health, poverty, hate crimes, and civic engagement, served over 2,000 low income Asian New Yorkers through education, resource sharing, and roundtable convenings, testified at over 15 city and state hearings advocating for Asian community social services and mental health access, as well as supported the city's Asian American mental health investment initiatives such as DOHMH's recent investment in expanding mental health care access to the New York City Asian American community through its RFI in September 2024.
7:19:05
AF along with our roundtable partners submitted recs to ensure the needs of Asian led Asian serving CBOs and that they are prioritized.
7:19:14
In fiscal year twenty six, we plan to expand our mental health work by partnering with six Asian led CBOs to expand clinical and non clinical mental health services for diverse Asian subgroups, enhancing online resources by growing our online mental health resources hubs, social media campaigns to ensure these tools reach the community, rehosting the Asian American Mental Health Roundtable with 15 organizations to strengthen policy advocacy and resource sharing, and develop education programs to decrease stigma around mental health, upskill nonprofit staff in mental health care, and advocate for greater public and elected official investment in Asian mental health.
7:19:52
We specifically request funding to sustain this work, 200,000 for the hate crime prevention through community based solutions, 100,000 for the immigrant mental health initiative, and 150,000 for culturally and linguistically relevant mental health services for vulnerable Asian populations.
7:20:08
Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today.