As 2018 comes to an end with the start of the holiday season, we at the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) take time to pause, reflect and give thanks as we are grateful for so many things: our experienced Board of Directors for their sound leadership, our hardworking and talented staff for their dedication to supporting Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) elders in aging with dignity and integrity, our many community partners for their commitment to providing excellent direct services and last but not least, our funders and individual donors for their trust and support in NAPCA’s mission and values.

Photo by Alpha / Flickr

Through continued funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), our flagship mature worker employment programs – the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program and the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program – have continued to empower over 1,100 AAPI older adult workers across America to improve their economic security through placement in community-based organizations and government agencies.

Thank you to our current SCSEP partners and the 500+ local community-based organizations in 20 states, 50+ counties and over 100 cities that help AAPIs and other diverse populations learn employable skills, such as English literacy, environmental conservation, hospitality, computer skills and customer service:

• ACC Senior Services
• Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center
• Chinese American Service League
• Chinese Community Center of Houston Texas
• Contra Costa County, Employment and Human Services Department
• Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center
• Korean Community Service of Metro NY
• National Able Network Inc.
• Philip Jaisohn Memorial Center
• Self-Help for the Elderly
• SER-Jobs for Progress

Participants from SCSEP recently shared the following comments in regards to why the program is important and valuable to them:

“I’m able to contribute to the community. I’m able to integrate my skills with new enhanced and developed skills. SCSEP program has opened the door towards new opportunities in the City of Oakland” – Ken in CA

“I’m able to go to work, get w2 to pay tax. I don’t want to apply free benefits from the government” – Yuang in NY

“In the assignment I have, I am able to physically move around and almost exercise while working” – Lyle

“I can gain work experience and build self-confidence in finding a job” – Joseph in MA

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NAPCA’s National Resource Center (NRC) on AAPI Aging is the nation’s first and only technical assistance resource center dedicated to building the capacity of long-term service and support systems to equitably serve AAPI older adults and their caregivers. The NRC is made possible through funding from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Thank you to the following organizations for partnering with the NRC this year to inform the collaborative development of technical assistance for professionals, such as trainings, fact sheets, reports, and culturally and linguistically appropriate educational resources:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• Dementia Friends USA
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• National Center on Elder Abuse
• Pacific Gateway Center
• The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities
• The University of Hawaii

To the AAPI community we have served for the past 39 years, we renew our commitment to you and your family and stand firmly to continue to promote your dignity, well-being and quality of life. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.