UC AAPI Award for Excellence in Policy Research
The UC AAPI Policy Initiative acknowledges Julian Chow, Grace Yoo, Cathy Vu, Lois Takahashi, and Michelle Magalong for their contributions and congratulates them on receiving the UC AAPI small grant Award for Translating Academic Research on AAPIs to Policy Briefs.
Summary of Research Projects, 2006-07:
Delivery of Welfare-to-Work and Employment Programs to AAPIs: What Works?
Julian Chow (PI), Associate Professor, UC Berkeley, Social Welfare
Grace Yoo (Co-PI), Associate Professor, SFSU, Asian American Studies
Cathy Vu (GSR), Doctoral Student, UC Berkeley, Social Welfare
Though recent changes to the welfare program seek to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment,the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population is most vulnerable to failing this goal because of immigrant-specific barriers. It is disturbing that such a trend remains persistently high throughout the last 3 years. Meanwhile, AAPI adults have the highest employment rates among welfare participants, which suggests that many employed AAPIs still do not make enough to leave assistance, let alone lifting them out of poverty .
Unfortunately, research indicates that existing WTW programs in California are seldom successful in helping AAPIs find meaningful employment. Little empirical evaluation research has been conducted on the effective ways to deliver WTW services addressing immigrant-specific barriers pertaining to employment for AAPIs. A better understanding of the culturally and linguistically appropriate program strategies and resources can improve access to services and successful transition to work among AAPIs.
This policy brief will conduct a systematic review of findings from research on promising practices of WTW programs that help immigrant populations in general, and to increase employment and earnings among AAPI in particular. In addition, it will discuss strategies for improving service access, utilization, and outcomes for AAPI welfare participants, along with recommendations to assist AAPIs in participating in permissible work activities and transition to work under the new TANF work requirements.
Julian Chow (PI) and Grace Yoo (Co-PI) are experienced researchers who have been studying welfare-related issues in AAPI communities. Cathy Vu is a MSW/PhD student at UC Berkeley, who has received a MPA degree from Cornell University.
Building Capacity For Rapid Response to State Health Crises: Learning from HIV/AIDS in AAPI Organizations and Communities
Lois Takahashi (PI), Associate Professor, UCLA, Urban Planning
Michelle Magalong (GSR), Doctoral Student, UCLA, Urban Planning
Health crises have become a significant threat to the well being and quality of life of California’s residents. HIV/AIDS in the AAPI community provides important lessons for how legislators, policy makers, and stakeholders may leverage community resources to rapidly respond to politically charged and stigmatized conditions, such as SARS and avian influenza. Though AIDS case rates for AAPI populations in the US remain low compared to other communities of color, the numbers are steadily rising. One of the largest challenges is effectively reducing HIV risk in an extremely diverse population with such high degrees of stigma associated with the condition.
The barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and care among AAPIs are significant, including barriers from the AAPI immigrant experience and cultural obstacles.
This policy brief seeks to propose to Californian legislators, policy makers, and stakeholders a culturally appropriate model of organizational capacity building, examine the experiences of AAPI focused efforts on organizational capacity building, and identify implications, lessons, and best practices for community-based rapid response to emerging health crises.
Lois M. Takahashi has published numerous articles and two books on her research interests, which include access to social services for populations in need, the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome, and community participation and environmental governance in Southeast Asian cities. Michelle G. Magalong is a doctoral student in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA and received her MA in Urban Planning from UCLA.
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