Chinese American Mental Health Network (CAMHN)
"When Ms. Chia-Chia Chien (founder of the Culture to Culture Network) told me about the high attendance of and overwhelming response to the community meetings that CAMHN held in Alameda County, there was no doubt in my mind that we needed to combine our resources to address this critical matter. We immediately solicited the help of Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker who is a former clinical social worker. Together we identified three main areas of concern: lack of awareness of the mental health care needs of Asian Americans, social stigma of mental illness in the Asian American community, and lack of bilingual mental health care workers. A fundraiser was consequently held to raise scholarships to encourage more bilingual students to consider a career in social work."
-- Wilma Chan, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Former California Assembly Minority Leader
"It has been a tremendous privilege for me to have the opportunity to work very closely with the Network and its founder, Chia-Chia Chien, for the past year. Being a clinical social worker myself, I have worked in the community serving people with mental health needs and other disabilities for ten years. For personal reasons, I am very pleased to see the formation of the Network and its mission. As a County Supervisor and a policy maker, I am particularly hopeful and excited about how the Network has encouraged and provided opportunities for young people to take interest in mental health professions or other human services professions as a career choice."
-- Alice Lai-Bitker, Former Alameda County Supervisor
"Asians take great pride in our family value tradition. We traditionally all rely on our family structure for financial and emotional support. However, we cannot deny the fact that the “family” factor, however deeply rooted in our culture, has now been much diluted. We need to educate and update ourselves on mental health. We have to network and collect all resources to help all Asians. The Asian Mental Health Network is here exactly to do that job. I am very excited to see the great response in programs put on by Asian Mental Health Network under the Culture to Culture Foundation. I look forward to even greater success in the future."
-- Regina Yin, Owner of multiple McDonald’s restaurants, and Master of Social Work
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Senior Center
"The Chinese American Senior Center of Contra Costa County has only been established for half a year, but with such efficient planning, exciting programs and quality leadership, everyone has shown their love of the center. Every member enjoys being part of this community, as it gives them happiness thus promoting better health; the Center also brings forth happiness and excitement to our lives."
-- Jiun Hou, Senior Center Volunteer
"After Mother’s Day in May of this year, my husband found out about the opening of the Chinese American Senior Center of Contra Costa County and the newspaper pictures of its activities. He became very excited and said that we must take our elderly mother to join. We live in Pleasanton, but we have not heard about any recreational center for Chinese retired people nearby. We have dreamed for such a place like this for a long time, and finally this dream has come true."
-- Katy Uy
"Walking into the Senior Center I felt that I had stepped into the happy days of some sixteen years ago. The only difference is that you brought laughter and happiness to more people, more older people who need love and care. For them, in their age, without children being with them, with plenty of free time, the Center has become an important part of their lives. Coming to the Center they can meet new friends, learn new things and achieve both mental and physical health."
-- Diana Wu, Senior Center Supporter
Chinese American Senior Center of Contra Costa County Newsletter No.4, July 2005.