Misson

The personal challenges I have faced as an Asian-American woman have instilled in me a profound determination to pursue a center focused on mental health and wellness. These experiences, coupled with the resilience needed to overcome them, have been the primary driving force behind my aspirations. The well-being of my children, in particular, has served as a powerful catalyst for my endeavors. Witnessing the struggles of my daughter, who also identifies as Asian American, dealing with bipolar and major depressive disorder, recurrent, and moderate, has deeply impacted me. Over three years time span, I tirelessly sought appropriate mental health care for her within Fresno. Navigating the limited availability of services covered by Medi-Cal and encountering numerous private counseling and therapy offices not accepting this insurance has been a formidable challenge. Despite finding a weekly therapist for her, it became evident that more comprehensive support was necessary. Regrettably, my efforts have been impeded by the requirement of consent from both parents for such services, with her father displaying a dismissive attitude towards mental health, thereby denying the consent needed. Presently, she relies on medication to aid in managing her condition, and while I have employed techniques acquired through my education and experiences, it is evident that she requires sustained and consistent professional care, beyond medication, to fully support her well-being. The same struggle extends to my step-daughter, who shares similar experiences as a Hispanic/Latino and Native American individual. Despite my 10 year background in providing mental health and social services, I have encountered significant hurdles in securing the same level of care for my daughters, because preventative mental health and wellness resources are not available. This has led me to question if other parents face similar challenges. The difficulties I faced included, but were not limited to, the struggle of making the father comprehend the legitimacy of mental health issues, encountering a predominance of privately-owned therapy facilities that solely accept private insurance, and a notable scarcity of services tailored to meet my daughter's requirements. My personal journey has fueled my ambition to establish a resource that offers education to individuals and parents within Fresno's underserved community while driving mental health awareness. I aspire to create a supportive environment where members of the underserved community can connect and bolster each other while navigating mental health issues, promoting self-wellness, and conquering these challenges. Crucially, I aim to offer these services at little to no cost to Fresno's underserved population, ensuring they are not overcome by the burdens of mental health