Seven Support Groups Build Community...
Women's Health Support Group meets at APA's Chinatown location for 10 weekly sessions and two groups are sponsered per year. The group is available to Cantonese speaking women and is sponsored by the March of Dimes. Childcare and refreshments are provided.

Women are empowered by:

  • learning about better health
  • sharing personal experiences
  • gaining support from other women
  • making healthier choices for themselves and their children

Women learn about:

  • pre-natal care
  • preventative health care
  • the benefits of proper nutrition
  • stress management
  • mental health

Parent Advisory Council keeps APA in touch with the needs and concerns of the Asian immigrant community regarding the challenges they face as newcomers and parents. It's an opportunity for parents not only to communicate but to get involved in policy changes and services. Meeting every other month, PAC is open to all APA families. Each meeting offers a guest speaker on topics ranging from safety in the home to welfare reform. Refreshments and activities for the children are provided.

"Safety Network" is APA's domestic violence support group which meets at APA's Chinatown location with biannual, ten week sessions. This group is well attended and pre- and post-testing show that clients made great progress. Guest speakers have come from the SF Police Department, Victim Witness Assistance Program, and other agencies. Childcare and refreshments are provided.

Women who have experienced domestic violence need:

  • a safe and supportive environment to understand domestic violence and its effects
  • to know that they are not alone
  • to talk about their experiences
  • to learn about their legal rights
  • to learn effective communication skills

Kinship Support Group is a new service for the Asian community serving grandparents and other relatives who are caretakers of children. The service provides parenting information, resources, and assistance to the surrogate parents. Issued addressed are child development, home safety, physical and mental health, and prevention of family violence. It consists of 10 weekly sessions held twice a year at the Chinatown location. Childcare and refreshments are provided.

Parent Education Classes serve Cantonese speaking parents. The eight week sessions are held twice a year. There are beginning and intermediate level classes offered. Childcare and refreshments are provided. Topics covered include:

  • understanding child behavior
  • learning cultural differences
  • developing alternate and cross-cultural parenting skills
  • awareness of domestic violence
  • effective communication skills s
  • tress relaxation techniques
  • child abuse prevention and intervention

Job Club, a new program added in March 2000, helps newcomer immigrants explore employment resources. Job Club offers training in job skills like resume writing, interviewing techniques and internet resources. There are experiential activities, field visits and guest speakers. Clients can network with potential employers. Parents can meet and discuss the new demands that will be placed on them as a result of a job. APA hopes to offer the ten week sessions on an ongoing basis. Childcare and refreshments are provided.

Saturday Family Club promotes fun family activities to celebrate festivals, customs and cultures. It provides workshops for families to learn new skills and to enrich their life experiences where issues like vocational training, childcare for working or student parents, and job hunting skills are discussed. Family Club meets the fourth Saturday of every month at the Chinatown location. Membership is free and refreshments are provided. Children's activities are organized by volunteers. Attendance ranges from 15-20 adults and 30-40 children.

 

 

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