ACRS was founded in 1973 out of a grassroots effort. During that time, Asian Pacific Americans were at risk of misdiagnosis and receiving inappropriate care from service providers unfamiliar with their culture and language. Today, ACRS provides a continuum of services for primarily low-income, immigrant, refugee, American-born Asians and Pacific Islanders through 13 programs:
- Aging and Adult Services
- Chemical Dependency Treatment
- Children, Youth and Families
- Citizenship Services
- Comprehensive Mental Health Services
- Congregate Meals and Emergency Feeding
- Consultation and Education
- Domestic Violence Batterers Treatment
- Employment and Training Services
- Food Bank
- Information and Referral Services
- Legal Clinic
- Problem Gambling Treatment
The agency's largely bilingual, bicultural staff of 200 collectively speak 30 languages and dialects. Caseworkers who speak the same language and come from the same culture assist more than 23,000 people annually, making clients' transitions easier and successful outcomes more likely.
