CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS

FAMILY HARMONY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THAT EMPLOYS A FAMILY SUPPORT MODEL THAT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SYSTEMS. SERVICES RANGE FROM CRISIS INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT WITH BASIC NEEDS AND SOCIAL WELFARE. WORKING TO BRIDGE LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BARRIERS, EMPOWERS AND ENABLES FAMILIES TO STABILIZE AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. CSEA HAS WORKED TO BRIDGE THE LANGUAGE, CULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BARRIERS BETWEEN SEA REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS AND MAINSTREAM SOCIETY. THE EXISTING NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACING MANY SEA ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO THESE BARRIERS AND THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS AS U.S. CITIZENS AND THE INFLUENCE THEY CAN HAVE ON PUBLIC POLICY AND DECISION MAKING IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT. MANY, IF NOT MOST, SEA ARE TAUGHT FROM A VERY EARLY AGE THAT QUESTIONING AUTHORITY IS SEEN AS A LACK OF RESPECT. THIS LEARNED MENTALITY PREVENTS MANY INDIVIDUALS FROM VOICING THEIR BELIEFS AND ADVOCATING FOR IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THEI