Support Mental Health Services for Asian Community
/The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways & Means has released S. 2564, an act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, a $3.67 billion spending plan investing federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the state’s fiscal 2021 multi-billion-dollar surplus.
Please help BCNC meet the overwhelming needs of Asian immigrant and working-class members. Asian families have faced two pandemics. The first pandemic has been COVID-19 and all the stresses COVID-19 has created including financial, health, and learning loss. The second pandemic has been the rise of anti-Asian hate incidents. Massachusetts has the 6th largest number of hate incident reports in the country.
BCNC has seen a 4-fold increase in case management needs from families facing loss of employment or loss of hours leading to increased family stress and an increase in behavioral issues in children in part due to the stress experienced at home.
Stop AAPI Hate reported that almost half of Asian Americans (46%) reported anxiety during the pandemic and 6 out of 10 respondents experience active discrimination and related depression, anxiety, and stress.
Asian Americans, particularly immigrants and those with lower English proficiency, often have trouble accessing mental health care due to structural, cultural, and linguistic barriers.
FIND YOUR SENATOR TO CONTACT:
Use this map or search page to find your Senator and call or email their office TODAY to support Senator Chang-Diaz’s amendment #296 today.
If you live in Chinatown, contact Senator Nick Collins: (617) 722-1150, Nick.Collins@masenate.gov
If you live in Quincy, contact Senator John Keenan: (617) 722-1494, John.Keenan@masenate.gov
If you live in Malden, contact Senator Jason Lewis: (617) 722-1206, Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov
If you live in Cambridge, contact Senator Sal DiDomenico: (617) 722-1650, Sal.DiDomenico@masenate.gov
If you live in Somerville, contact Senator Patricia Jehlen: (617) 722-1578, Patricia.Jehlen@masenate.gov
If you live in Milton, Braintree, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, contact Senator is Walter Timilty: (617) 722-1643, Walter.Timilty@masenate.gov
TEMPLATE MESSAGE:
Subject: Support Asian children, youth & families impacted by COVID-19 in S.2564-296
Dear Senator __________
The last 22 months of the pandemic have been incredibly challenging for the Asian community, particularly its immigrant and working-class members. Asian families have faced two pandemics. The first pandemic has been COVID-19 and all the stresses that COVID-19 has created including financial, health, and learning loss. The second pandemic has been the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents. Massachusetts has the 6th largest number of hate incident reports in the country.
Please support Senator Chang-Diaz’s Amendment #296 for Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) to provide bilingual and culturally informed mental health services to the Asian community.
Asian ethnic, community-based organizations provide linguistically and culturally appropriate programs and access that are critical to one of the fastest growing populations in the Commonwealth. The Asian population grew to 7.2% of the population from 5.3% the last decade not including multiracial families. Senator Chang-Diaz’s Amendment #296 would support BCNC, an organization that is critical to provide the Asian community programs, services, and support. Those "closest to the problem are closest to the solution."
Thank you for your service to the residents of the Commonwealth.
OTHER AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT:
There are other amendments being considered that would impact the Asian community. In addition, you can include the following amendments in your advocacy and ask for support for
Senator Collins’ Amendment #201 to provide Chinatown Community Stabilization
Senator Collins’ Amendment #199 to support Boston Little Saigon business and cultural district
