Coalition for Asian American Children and Families

Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Name	Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Founded	1990
Location	New York City, New York, United States
Area served	Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
Focus	Child welfare, civil rights, social services

Coalition for Asian American Children and Families is a New York City–based advocacy nonprofit focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander youth, families, and communities. The organization operates at the intersection of child welfare, civil rights, and social services, engaging with municipal and federal institutions, community organizations, and philanthropic foundations. It partners with advocacy groups, legal service providers, and educational institutions to influence policy, deliver programs, and document disparities affecting immigrant and refugee populations.

History

The organization emerged during the late 20th century as Asian American activism coalesced around issues highlighted by groups such as Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Korean American Coalition, and Japanese American Citizens League. Early efforts linked to local campaigns in New York City, collaboration with immigrant rights coalitions like National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, coordination with civil liberties allies including American Civil Liberties Union, and engagements with multicultural networks such as National Council of La Raza (now National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials) informed its formation. During the 1990s and 2000s the group worked alongside child welfare advocates connected to institutions like City University of New York, Columbia University, Ford Foundation, and city agencies in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Its development reflects broader policy debates involving federal statutes such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act and local initiatives in New York State.

Mission and Objectives

The organization’s mission emphasizes equitable outcomes for Asian American and Pacific Islander children, families, and communities through advocacy, research, and direct services. Objectives include reducing disparities documented in studies from institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, promoting bilingual services similar to programs at Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and advancing policy reforms echoing priorities of networks such as National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development and Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Strategic goals align with child welfare reform movements linked to agencies like Administration for Children and Families, juvenile justice initiatives tied to Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and immigration-access campaigns associated with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Programs and Services

Programmatic work spans direct-service models comparable to Catholic Charities USA and community-based education approaches used by Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates, offering family support, parent leadership development, and youth empowerment. Services include culturally tailored counseling informed by research from National Institutes of Health, case management resembling practices at Community Service Society of New York, and training for social workers paralleling curricula at Fordham University and Hunter College. The organization runs outreach in ethnic enclaves such as Flushing, Queens, Chinatown, Manhattan, and Sunset Park, Brooklyn, coordinating with faith-based groups like Buddhist Churches of America and Catholic Charities parish programs, and legal aid providers like Legal Aid Society.

Advocacy and Policy Work

Advocacy priorities encompass state and municipal policy campaigns, coalition-building with groups like Make the Road New York, litigation partnerships with entities such as Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and policy research collaborations with think tanks including Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. Policy initiatives target child welfare caseload disparities revealed in reports by Office for Civil Rights, school discipline reforms discussed at Department of Education (United States), and health access campaigns coordinated with Kaiser Family Foundation analyses. The organization engages elected officials ranging from New York City Council members to members of the United States Congress and has participated in administrative rulemaking processes administered by agencies like New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Governance follows a nonprofit framework with a board of directors, executive leadership, program staff, and volunteer networks similar to structures at United Way, YMCA of Greater New York, and community development corporations. Leadership historically interfaces with prominent Asian American advocates, civil rights attorneys, and social service administrators who have affiliations with institutions such as Columbia Law School, New York University, Brooklyn Law School, and philanthropic entities like Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Staff roles include policy directors, program managers, community organizers, and development officers who collaborate with labor organizations like 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East on workforce and family-support campaigns.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships draw from private foundations, corporate philanthropy, government grants, and donor-advised funds, with counterparts including Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and municipal contract arrangements with New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. Collaborative projects involve universities such as CUNY Graduate Center, legal clinics at NYU School of Law, and national networks like Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum. Fiscal sponsorships and grantmaking relationships mirror practices used by community organizations funded by Corporation for National and Community Service and state human services budgets.

Impact and Recognition

The organization’s impact is measured through policy changes, service delivery metrics, and community leadership development documented in reports circulated among institutions like Manhattan Institute critiques, academic journals at American Public Health Association, and coverage in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio. Recognition has come in the form of awards and citations from civic groups, legislative commendations from local officials in New York City Hall, and partnerships with philanthropic programs administered by entities like Robin Hood Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation. Its work contributes to broader AAPI advocacy trends alongside groups like Asian Americans Advancing Justice and regional networks centered in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City Category:Asian-American organizations