FACT SHEET: Resources for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities in the Aftermath of Mass Violence
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed
to providing assistance to survivors and families, and all those affected by
mass violence, including in the aftermath of the shootings in Monterey Park, CA
and Half Moon Bay, CA and to providing culturally appropriate resources to all
those affected, including those in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities.
Caring for Survivors
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims
of Crime (OVC) funds VictimConnect Resource Center (VCRC), a
weekday phone, chat, and text-based referral helpline operated by the National
Center for Victims of Crime. Services are available for all victims of crime in
the United States and its territories. Visitors to the hotline receive
strength-based and trauma-informed services and referrals in over 200
languages.
· Call or text directly at 1-855-4VICTIM
(855-484-2846) or chat online.
· Support services are available
8:30a.m.–7:30p.m. ET.
· 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
The FBI Office for Victim Assistance utilizes the
resources of their Victim Assistance Program and Victim Specialists to provide
assistance to victims of crimes investigated by the FBI.
· Call 877-236-8947 for more information.
The CA Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)
works to reduce the impact of crime on victims’ lives. CalVCB reimburses
crime-related expenses, connect victims with services and support.
· Online application forms for victims of
mass violence in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. Forms are available in
Chinese (Traditional and Mandarin) and in Spanish.
· Call CalVCB’s Customer Service Line for
assistance: 1-800-777-9229
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims
of Crime (OVC) provides updated, customized information on their website for persons needing assistance in
the aftermath of a mass violence incident.
· The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims
of Crime (OVC) Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Planning,
Response, Recovery, and Resources Toolkit can help communities
respond to victims of mass violence and terrorism in the most timely,
effective, and compassionate manner possible.
· OVC’s Training and Technical Assistance Center
(OVC TTAC) also features resources on Mass Violence and Terrorism.
· The OVC-funded National Mass Violence
Victimization Resource Center is dedicated to improving
community preparedness and the nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering
from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and
collaboration.
The Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) coordinates the
Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) which
provides a wide range of resources, information, and guidance to communities
affected by tragedy. These technical assistance resources can support
local leaders as they seek to address pressing needs and challenges.
· For more information about the TRACIE program,
call 1-844-587-2243.
Providing Mental Health Resources and Other Supports
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)-funded Disaster Distress Helpline is a national
helpline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This
24/7 toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is
available to residents in the United States and its territories who are
experiencing emotional distress related to natural or
human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence.
· Call or text the hotline at 800–985–5990.
· Additional resources and guidance on how to
address community needs after incidents of mass violence is also provided
online through SAMHS.
This web page from the SAMHSA Disaster
Distress Helpline (Incidents of Mass Violence) explains what
incidents of mass violence are and signs of emotional distress that affected
individuals and communities may experience. It provides information regarding
those at risk for emotional distress, possible trigger events, and additional
resources.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free,
confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service
(in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or
substance use disorders.
· Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
· Text your zip code to: 435748 (HELP4U)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly
known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text and
chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing
suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of
emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved
one who may need crisis support.
· Call or text 988, or chat 988 Suicide &
Crisis Lifeline.
· TTY users may use their preferred relay
service or dial 711 and then 1-800-273-8255.
· Calling services in English and Spanish;
Language Line Solutions in over 250 languages. Text and chat are currently
available in English only.
SAMHSA also maintains several online Mental
and Behavioral Health Treatment Locators for individuals looking to find a
local provider:
· Substance Use Treatment Locator
· Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
· Early
Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator
The Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers
are community-based counseling centers to provide a wide range of social and
psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible veterans,
service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their
families. They will also help connect community members who are not veterans to
needed resources.
· For more information and to locate a nearby
Vet Center, visit: https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
· To call the national Vet Center Call Center,
dial 877-927-8387.
This web page, (What to Expect in the Wake of Mass Violence),
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD provides
information about mass violence events and the coping needs of affected
individuals and communities. It highlights common reactions, explains immediate
and long-term needs for those who experience mass violence, and includes
strategies for managing ongoing distress.
Helping Students and Youth Cope with Trauma
The Department of Education is encouraging
educators and families across the country to reference its report providing information and resources
to promote mental health and social and emotional well-being among students
among early childhood, K–12 schools, and higher education settings.
This publication from SAMHSA, (Tips for Young Adults: Coping With
Mass Violence) explores the impact of mass violence on young adults
(ages 18 to 26). It describes mass violence incidents and their common effects,
suggests ways to cope, and identifies signs of the need for professional
behavioral health support.
The SAMHSA-funded National
Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) coordinates with
trauma-informed experts across the country to provide technical assistance,
subject matter expertise, and onsite support in the wake of community-wide
trauma.
· This tip sheet, Coping after Mass Violence,
provides information on common reactions to mass violence and lists strategies
for coping. The resource explores emotional and behavioral reactions children
and families may experience to encourage self-care techniques, including
healthy habits and limiting of social media exposure
Securing Access to Nutritious Food
The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) offers an array of programs aimed at securing access to nutritious food:
· If you are seeking food assistance, please
call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY to speak with a
representative who will find food resources such as meal sites, food banks, and
other social services available near your location. The Hotline operates from
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET.
· You can also text to the automated service at
914-342-7744 with a question that may contain a keyword such as “food”,
“summer”, or “meals” to receive an automated response to resources located near
an address and/or zip code.
The Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a federal program that
provides nutrition benefits to low-income individuals and families that are
used at stores to purchase food.
· For any SNAP questions, you may call
the SNAP Toll-free Information Number at 1-800-221-5689.
· To apply for benefits or get information about
SNAP, you must contact your local SNAP office. Each state has its own
application form. If your state’s form is not on the web, you’ll need to
contact your local SNAP office to request one. You can locate SNAP State
Directory of Resources here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states
for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and
to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.
· To apply to be a WIC participant, contact your
local agency to set up an appointment: FNS Contacts | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) program provides states, territories, and tribes with funds to operate
programs designed to help families with lower incomes and children achieve
economic self-sufficiency. The program provides monthly cash assistance
payments to families with lower incomes and children, as well as a wide range
of services.
· Find more information regarding the TANF
program, visit TANF | The Administration for Children and Families
(acf.hhs.gov) Ø
· Find information about your state’s TANF
program, visit Help for Families | The Administration for Children and
Families (acf.hhs.gov)
Supporting People with Disabilities, Older Adults and Caregivers
Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) provides
information about community-based supports and services that people may be
eligible for to live independently, go to school and work, and fully
participate in all of life’s activities. DIAL’s staff are trained to work with
people of various communications abilities and will spend as much time as
needed to ensure effective communication. DIAL’s Information Specialists can
assist people in all languages and are trained to work with callers who are
deaf and hard-of-hearing.
· Reach DIAL at (888) 677-1199, Monday through
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET or
email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide
service that connects older adults and their caregivers with trustworthy local
support resources. The Eldercare Locator can provide information to help older
adults and caregivers find transportation to medical appointments, make repairs
or modifications to their homes, receive in-home assistance, get meals
delivered to the home, and
more. The hotline operates 24 hours a day,
seven days a week and is available in English and Spanish, with translation in
180 languages.
· Reach out to Eldercare Locator, call 1 (800)
677-1116 or visit Eldercare Locator (acl.gov) to chat live.
Providing Access to Health Care
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are
community-based health care organizations that provide comprehensive,
culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services for people who
have lower incomes, who are uninsured, or face other obstacles to getting
health care. FQHCs provide services regardless of patients’ ability to pay and
charge for services on a sliding fee scale.
· To find a health center near you, visit Find
a Health Center (hrsa.gov)
· While not part of the FQHCs, many state and
local health (and public health) departments provide health care. To find a
public health department near you, visit Directory
of Local Health Departments – NACCHO
The following is a list of FQHCs that serve
patient populations with a majority (>50%) of Asian American and Native
Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) patients, and offer
culturally-accessible services, including language support:
· Asian Americans for Community Involvement Of
Santa Clara (San Jose, CA)
· Asian Health Services, Inc. (Oakland, CA)
· Asian Human Services Family Health Center,
Inc. (Chicago, IL)
· Asian Pacific Health Care Venture (Los
Angeles, CA)
· Asian Services in Action, Inc (Akron, OH)
· Bay Area Community Health (Fremont, CA)
· Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Inc.
(New York, NY)
· Chinatown Service Center (Los Angeles, CA)
· Chuuk State Department of Health
Services (Chuuk, FM)
· Community Medical Wellness Centers USA (Long
Beach, CA)
· Department of Health Pago (Pago, AS)
· Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc.
(Philadelphia, PA)
· Guam Department of Public Health (Hagatna, GU)
· Hana Community Health Center, Inc. (Hana,
HI)
· Healthpoint (Renton, WA)
· Herald Christian Health Center (San Gabriel,
CA)
· Ho’ola Lahui Hawai’i (Lihue, HI)
· International Community Health Services
(Seattle, WA)
· Kagman Community Health Center E, Inc (Saipan,
MP)
· Kalihi-Palama Health Center (Honolulu, HI)
· Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family
Services (Honolulu, HI)
· Korean Health, Education, Information And
Research Center (Los Angeles, CA)
· Kosrae Community Health Center (Kosrae, FM)
· Ministry of Health and Environment (Ebeye, MH)
· Nhan Hoa Comprehensive Health Care Clinic,
Inc. (Garden Grove, CA)
· North East Medical Services (San Francisco,
CA)
· Operation Samahan, Inc. (National City, CA)
· Pohnpei Community Health Center (Pohnpei, FM)
· Republic of Palau Bureau of Health Services
(Palau, PW)
· Sea-Mar Community Health Center (Seattle, WA)
· South Cove Community Health Center, Inc.
(Boston, MA)
· Southland Integrated Services, Inc. (Santa
Ana, CA)
· Sunset Park Health Council, Inc (Brooklyn, NY)
· Wa’ab CHC / Yap State Dept of Health Services
(Yap, FM)
· Waianae District Comp Health & Hospital
Board, Inc. (Waianae, HI)
· Waimanalo Health Center (Waimanalo, HI)
Preventing Hate Crimes
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is
dedicated to preventing and fighting hate crimes. DOJ works to prevent hate
crimes by supporting community education and dialogue, and providing support,
technical assistance, and funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies and service providers. When hate crimes do happen, DOJ can investigate
and prosecute, and can also support victims and their families.
· Find out more below about how DOJ prevents and
fights hate crimes, and can support you. Support
From DOJ (justice.gov)
To report a hate crime:
If you believe you are the victim of a hate
crime or believe you witnessed a hate crime:
· STEP 1: Report the crime to your local police.
· STEP 2: Quickly follow up this report with a
tip to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). FBI – Tips (Field
Offices — FBI)
· For emergencies, dial 9-1-1 to get immediate
help
Immigration relief for certain victims of crimes
The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set
aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse
and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation
or prosecution of criminal activity.
· Find more information at Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status |
USCIS
Preventing Targeted Violence
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and The National Counterterrorism Center offer
resources to help prevent targeted violence and keep individuals and
institutions safe. Here are a few of those resources:
· DHS field contacts:
o Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships |
Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
o Protective Security Advisors | CISA
o Regional Coordinators of the Center for Prevention
Programs and Partnerships
· Resources to help with facility assessment and
organizational readiness:
o Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment | CISA
o CISA Tabletop Exercise Package Fact Sheet: Faith-Based
Organizations (cisa.gov)
· Resources to help with personal readiness and
preparedness:
o Attacks in Crowded and Public Spaces | Ready.gov
o You Are the Help Until Help Arrives (fema.gov)
· DHS/Federal Emergency Management
Administration grant programs to address security and prevention:
o Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA.gov
o Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program
| Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
· Connecting with Homeland Security Information
Network Portal and resources from The National Counterterrorism Center:
o How to Join HSIN | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
o Office of Intelligence and Analysis | Homeland Security
(dhs.gov)
o Accessing the aCTknowledge
app
Additional Resources for States and Communities
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid
Services has also enabled Medicaid coverage for qualifying community-based mobile crisis
services in the state, and is conducting outreach and providing technical
assistance to those wishing to apply.
· For more information about Medicaid call
877-267-2323.
The Department of Commerce is offering grants and cooperative agreements to
leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic
development strategies and projects that advance new ideas and creative
approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.
The Department of Education’s Office of Safe
and Supportive Schools has established the Readiness and Emergency Management for School (REMS)
Center to perform two critical functions: build the
preparedness capacity (including prevention, protection, mitigation, response,
and recovery efforts) of schools, school districts, IHEs, and their community
partners at the local, state, and Federal levels; and serve as the primary
source of information for schools, school districts, and IHEs for
emergencies.
· The following resources are available through
the REMS Center: Recovery from an Emergency Incident; Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional,
Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs; Becoming Trauma Informed: Taking the First Step to
Becoming a Trauma-Informed School; and a Managing Donations and Volunteers Fact Sheet.
The National
Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE), funded
by the Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, offers
information and technical assistance to states, districts, schools, IHEs, and
communities focused on improving school climate and conditions for
learning.
