Trending...
- Spartan & Guardians Partner with Guitar Legend Buckethead to Support Global Child Rescue Efforts
- Governor Newsom honors fallen California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano
- Live Courageously Hosts Ann-Marie Murrell, Author, Journalist, Former Political Commentator
San Francisco, CA — Today, Mayor London N. Breed announced new proposed funding to expand services for Asian victims of crime. The $500,000 investment in her proposed budget will increase services and capacity to serve Asian victims of crime who are limited in their English proficiency.
Since the pandemic began, reported hate crimes and incidents against Asians and Pacific Islanders have increased exponentially. In 2021 alone, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) reported in January of 2022 that there was a 567% increase in reported hate crimes from 2020. The Stop AAPI Hate coalition tracked more than 10,000 incidents of hate from March 2020 through September 2021 nationally.
"As we've seen hate crimes play out in our city, our Police Department has responded to make arrests and hold people accountable," said Mayor Breed. "And while accountability is critical in these cases, it also became clear in talking to many in the community that these victims also need mental health support, which can be difficult for those with language barriers. Through this funding, we will be getting the support to those who need it, in the way that they are most likely to accept it—that is the key to a victim-centered system."
The proposed $500,000 investment includes:
"With these investments from the Mayor's Office, more Asian victims of crime will have early access to culturally competent mental health services," said Christina Shea, Deputy Chief/Director of Clinical Services at RAMS, Inc. "This is a crucial piece to begin the recovery and healing—to have a means to process their feelings of grief, shock, fear, and anxiety, which could lead to more complex issues in the future, if not supported early on."
More on The Californer
"During a time when our community is experiencing extreme stress, anxiety, and fear, supporting culturally competent and in-language support is more critical than ever. We uplift any effort that not only destigmatizes but expands mental health services for our API community. Healing starts with an intentional effort to meet community members where they are and with respect for their culture. Investments in this work are pivotal as we recover from our collective trauma," said Sarah Wan, Executive Director of Community Youth Center (CYC), an organization that provides wraparound services for victims of crime, focusing on limited English proficient API victims of hate incidents and crimes.
Mayor Breed has invested in growing victim services citywide, including for the limited English proficient communities and hate crime victims. Last year, she invested over $3.2 million [corroborate with MBO] in wraparound victim services for the API community and created a Community Liaison Unit (CLU) within the SFPD to ensure that there would be cultural and linguistic competency to reach and serve victims. There is ongoing $2.6 million for community-led, multiracial safety walks staffed by CYC and the Street Violence Intervention Project (SVIP) as well as $2.5 million for community-based wraparound victim services and a citywide senior escort program led by Self Help for the Elderly to prevent violence in the first place.
"This investment represents a commitment to support our diverse communities in San Francisco," said Dr. Sheryl Davis, Director, Human Rights Commission. "Through the Office of Racial Equity, the Human Rights Commission will invest over two million dollars to address hate incidents and support communities and groups across the City to address bias and discrimination. The success of this program requires cross-cultural collaboration, and we are all committed to addressing the root causes of bias and inequity. We will continue to address issues of hate across the intersections including, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and in this instance the need for in-language support. This is one example of how we provide supports based on the community need."
More on The Californer
What was clear from these providers was that there was a need to strengthen access to mental health services for victims who faced additional obstacles in getting help after the death of a loved one or being targeted for violence due to language and cultural barriers—victim advocates identified this is a key gap that they could not provide without the City's help in growing these resources.
Since the pandemic began, reported hate crimes and incidents against Asians and Pacific Islanders have increased exponentially. In 2021 alone, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) reported in January of 2022 that there was a 567% increase in reported hate crimes from 2020. The Stop AAPI Hate coalition tracked more than 10,000 incidents of hate from March 2020 through September 2021 nationally.
"As we've seen hate crimes play out in our city, our Police Department has responded to make arrests and hold people accountable," said Mayor Breed. "And while accountability is critical in these cases, it also became clear in talking to many in the community that these victims also need mental health support, which can be difficult for those with language barriers. Through this funding, we will be getting the support to those who need it, in the way that they are most likely to accept it—that is the key to a victim-centered system."
The proposed $500,000 investment includes:
- $240,000 – For dedicated trauma recovery clinical services in Cantonese for limited English proficient Asian victims of serious violent crimes or family members of homicide victims; and for training and technical assistance for community-based providers to help build capacity in community for these types of services.
- $160,000 – To expand treatment in Cantonese at a community-based mental health service provider for limited English proficient Asian victims of crime who need mental health support as part of their recovery; to help build capacity in community-based organization(s) to provide this type of service as crimes against Asian seniors, especially, has increased over time. Hate crimes and incidents are a priority.
- $59,000 – For increased senior escort services citywide to help get severely disabled folks to and from their homes for medical appointments and for social interaction to break their isolation.
"With these investments from the Mayor's Office, more Asian victims of crime will have early access to culturally competent mental health services," said Christina Shea, Deputy Chief/Director of Clinical Services at RAMS, Inc. "This is a crucial piece to begin the recovery and healing—to have a means to process their feelings of grief, shock, fear, and anxiety, which could lead to more complex issues in the future, if not supported early on."
More on The Californer
- California: Governor Newsom proclaims Independence Day 2025
- Gundam GQuuuuuuX Takes Center Stage at Anime Expo 2025
- John Duffy Competes in Mr Muscle Beach
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- Thorn & Bloom Magazine Unveils Groundbreaking Second Edition: "Breaking the Cycle"
"During a time when our community is experiencing extreme stress, anxiety, and fear, supporting culturally competent and in-language support is more critical than ever. We uplift any effort that not only destigmatizes but expands mental health services for our API community. Healing starts with an intentional effort to meet community members where they are and with respect for their culture. Investments in this work are pivotal as we recover from our collective trauma," said Sarah Wan, Executive Director of Community Youth Center (CYC), an organization that provides wraparound services for victims of crime, focusing on limited English proficient API victims of hate incidents and crimes.
Mayor Breed has invested in growing victim services citywide, including for the limited English proficient communities and hate crime victims. Last year, she invested over $3.2 million [corroborate with MBO] in wraparound victim services for the API community and created a Community Liaison Unit (CLU) within the SFPD to ensure that there would be cultural and linguistic competency to reach and serve victims. There is ongoing $2.6 million for community-led, multiracial safety walks staffed by CYC and the Street Violence Intervention Project (SVIP) as well as $2.5 million for community-based wraparound victim services and a citywide senior escort program led by Self Help for the Elderly to prevent violence in the first place.
"This investment represents a commitment to support our diverse communities in San Francisco," said Dr. Sheryl Davis, Director, Human Rights Commission. "Through the Office of Racial Equity, the Human Rights Commission will invest over two million dollars to address hate incidents and support communities and groups across the City to address bias and discrimination. The success of this program requires cross-cultural collaboration, and we are all committed to addressing the root causes of bias and inequity. We will continue to address issues of hate across the intersections including, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and in this instance the need for in-language support. This is one example of how we provide supports based on the community need."
More on The Californer
- Cheap O SMS Launches Groundbreaking Free SMS API Service
- California: Governor Newsom signs legislation 7.3.25
- Fireworks, fun, and safety: California preps for the holiday weekend
- BillBoards Inc. Hits the Road with God Bless America Tour and Reality Series Now Streaming on Tubi TV
- Legacy vs. Legacy Gala: Celebrating the Past, Powering the Future of the L.A. Watts Summer Games
What was clear from these providers was that there was a need to strengthen access to mental health services for victims who faced additional obstacles in getting help after the death of a loved one or being targeted for violence due to language and cultural barriers—victim advocates identified this is a key gap that they could not provide without the City's help in growing these resources.
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- New Media Film Festival Announces Winners
- New Podcast "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Hosted by Josh and Heidi Case Launches July 7th with Explosive Global Reach and a Mission to Transform Lives
- DetailAxis Unveils it's 'Business Engine': Powerful AI Systems for Auto Appearance Pros
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 7.2.25
- The Herbal Care, Led by Markel Bababekov, Becomes a Top Dispensary in NYC's Upper East Side
- Digital Watchdog Launches New myDW Cloud Services
- Governor Newsom honors fallen California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano
- Stan Fitzgerald Appointed Acting Press Secretary for Veterans for America First VFAF Georgia State Chapter
- Drone Light Shows Emerge as the New Standard in Live Event Entertainment
- Lore Link is Here to Help Organize Your Game
- Governor Newsom marks historic expansion of California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, announces 16 new projects to film in the Golden State
- Talar Guedikian Named Winner of 2025 AAJ Paralegal of the Year Award, Sponsored by Advocate Capital
- Chappaqua's Annual Townwide Summer Sale – Unbeatable Savings at Your Favorite Local Boutiques!
- Skyline Partners with ZenSpace to Offer Private Meeting Pods for Trade Show Exhibitors
- California: Did gas prices go up by 65 cents at the pump? No.
- Snell & Wilmer Welcomes Associate Victoria Cendejas to the Orange County Office
- Crime in California drops again — state records second-lowest homicide rate since 1966
- FireAid Donates $75,000 To California Strong To Distribute To Palisades and Eaton Fire Victims
- Celebrate Safely: 4th of July BBQ & Celebration Essentials from Mercury Insurance
- AI Innovation Dual-Strategy Business Model Focused on Real Estate Development for Strategic Expansion: OFA Group, (N A S D A Q: OFAL)