Union of Pan Asian Communities Upac

Specialties

UPAC is a non-​profit 501 © (3) organization that provides health and human services to under-​served Asian, Pacific Islander, Latino, Middle Eastern, East African, African American and other ethnic populations of San Diego. UPAC’s major areas of focus include:

Programs & Services

*Mental Health Services to Older Adults, Adults, Children & Adolescents through crisis intervention, assessment, counseling, psychiatric care, & peer-​led support.

*Outreach and education, counseling & advocacy for children exposed to domestic violence or dating violence, ages 13 & under from Latino

& Asian/​Pacific Islander communities.

*Alcohol, drug & tobacco addiction treatment

& recovery services; Problem gambling treatment

*High risk youth mentorship, and PrimeTime after school program

*Small business development

*Housing counseling

*Cancer awareness outreach & education; Tobacco cessation education & research;

& Covered California Affordable Care Act Education.

*Senior congregate meals, nutrition education & physical fitness

*Customized translation & interpretation; culturally competent material development, Training & Consultation

History

Established in 1974.

In 1974, UPAC’s Founding Executive Director, Beverly Yip, and six leaders of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities (Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Samoan, and Guamanian) united and pioneered the way for UPAC’s first city of San Diego grant. UPAC established a cultural adjustment and language assistance program to access community services.

As refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia began arriving in San Diego with multiple health, behavioral health, educational and housing needs, UPAC developed culturally and linguistically appropriate programs to address their special needs and emerged as the only bilingual, bi-​cultural, multi-​service agency for San Diego’s Asian populations.