As the new year approaches, we want to reflect on the incredible response and resilience of the entire CPAF community since Spring 2020.

Throughout the COVID-19 health crisis and the escalation of anti-AAPI violence seen across the country, our CPAF family remained #UnitedAgainstViolence to provide critical support to the survivors, children, youth and families we serve. Thanks to our supporters, partners, board, staff, interns, and volunteers, we: 

Found new ways to house survivors transitioning from crisis to safety

• CPAF adjusted its three shelter facilities to safely house families in accordance with CDC guidelines.

• Through Project Safe Haven, CPAF housed an additional 115 adults and children.

• When regular housing resources were no longer accessible, CPAF pivoted to provide rental assistance to clients.

Responded to extended multilingual hotline calls in 22 languages & dialects

• Due to shelter-in-place guidelines, CPAF frequently responded to callers isolated at home with persons causing harm.

• Increases in anti-AAPI violence lengthened conversations as callers shared intensive experiences of trauma.

• Callers reported increased mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Expanded CPAF’s roots, visibility, and reach

• Roots: CPAF developed strategies to deepen relationships in the community and ensure partnership longevity and impact, such as creating a partnership assessment tool and committing to transformational connections. 

• Visibility: We found innovative ways to connect with youth leaders, adult allies, clients, and supporters, including hosting a United Against Violence virtual benefit and creating an online lounge for students and teachers to gather socially. 

• Reach: Shifting programs and services to virtual settings allowed for in-language events and trainings to take place not only in Los Angeles, but throughout California and across the country - reaching 6,000 individuals! 

Connected clients and staff to critical equipment and COVID-19 testing & vaccinations

• Our shelters transformed into vaccination and testing clinics to address and prevent exposures to the coronavirus. 

• We enhanced technology infrastructures organization-wide by providing laptops, equipment, and remote support for employees to work from home while maintaining confidentiality. 

• CPAF clients and children received the equipment access and assistance needed to log in to remote work and schooling platforms. 

Committed to anti-racist policies

• Staff developed a Racial Justice Committee (RJC) to assess current practices and identify ongoing opportunities for growth in equity and anti-racist initiatives.

• Reserved space for staff to engage in challenging conversations through the Discomfort Zone and the RJC.

All of this would not have been possible without the outpouring of support, dedication, and passion shown from our CPAF community. 

Our clients, their children, and our young adult agents of change rely on your contributions, volunteered hours, and outreach to others. As we look ahead to recovery efforts for 2022 and beyond, flexible support will remain critical to our ability to adapt and provide innovative, culturally-responsive services in 30 Asian and Pacific Islander languages and dialects. Please join us in nurturing change together: