ASIAN PACIFIC COMMUNITY COUNSELING

Trans-cultural Wellness Center APCC was awarded a contract on March 22, 2007, funded with the Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63) funds administered by Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services. The Trans-cultural Wellness Centers (TWC) bilingual and bicultural staff provides services to diverse language and cultural clients with severe mental illness in Sacramento County. Outpatient mental health treatment services include psychiatric medication support, psychotherapy, rehabilitation, case management, service linkage and related support systems including funding for housing, utilities, hygiene and self-care, food, links to education and employment training, and other client needs. Services follow a client-oriented, recovery-oriented model that is strength-based, culturally and linguistically relevant and informed by the knowledge and experience of consumers, family members and community members. TWC serves all age groups including children, youth, transitional age youth, adults, and older adults. Under the direction of the Chief Operations Officer, Clinical Program Manager and the Medical Director, a team of psychiatrists, clinical supervisors and bilingual and bicultural clinical therapists, mental health counselors, family advocate and peer partner provide services. New APCC team members and contract psychiatrists receive ongoing training on TWC policies and procedures, county required documentation and government regulations on client care. Outreach is ongoing to clients referred by the County, community-based providers and to underserved and un-served individuals of diverse cultural groups. More than 250 275 unduplicated clients, families and caregivers are served annually. Supporting Community ConnectionsSupporting Community Connections is a suicide prevention and outreach program for the culturally diverse communities in Sacramento County. The program aims to bring awareness, reduce stigma, increase protective factors, reduce risk factors, and lend a voice to these communities. We provide relevant education on suicide prevention to schools, community centers, and at community events. APCC increases protective factors by offering classes and support groups in native languages to fight risk factors such as limited acculturation, loneliness, and hopelessness. APCC also empowers participants by providing the skills for community members to be part of the campaign.SCC program offers a variety of classes and activities structured to address needs identified by the communities themselves. Ballroom dancing, computer skills, Tai-Chi, yoga and meditation are some of the offerings meant to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors by decreasing isolation, increasing acculturation, and improving health and wellness. Over 1,000 individuals are served annually through outreach, education, and prevention services.