What’s the IWAY Project?

IWAY stands for Improving the Wellness of Asian Youth. It is a 5-year project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and operated under the Health Intervention Projects for Underserved Populations at the Public Health Institute. Our goal is to increase access to mental health services for Asian youth, ages 12-18 living in Alameda county. IWAY is a collaboration between Asian Health Services, a local healthcare center in Oakland Chinatown, and the Public Health Institute, a non-profit organization in Oakland. Asian Health Services provided counseling services and youth programs, while the health educators from the Public Health Institute focused on recruitment and outreach activities. This collaborative approach proved successful, as each organization brought in their own strengths and resources to the partnership. Asian Health Services has an established youth program department and mental health department, so they have trained and experienced staff members to provide those services. Meanwhile, the Public Health Institute prioritized their health educators to develop recruitment materials and outreach strategies, attend tabling events at schools and health fairs, present mental health workshops in classrooms, and collect survey data from participants.

IWAY strives to make our programs and services as accessible as possible and we pay close attention to any barriers or challenges that Asian youth might face. To remove financial barriers, all of our services are free. No insurance is needed because it might not be affordable or they don’t have insurance due to their immigration status. Our services are incentivized to compensate the youth in taking the time to complete our surveys. Shame is often attached to utilizing mental health services, whether it is the youth feeling shame in seeking help or the parents feeling shame that their child is seeking help, so they are often against it or unsupportive. Which is why there is no parental consent needed from youth when enrolling into IWAY. We also offer wellness programs and counseling services at schools. This increases access to mental health education for those youth who are unable to travel on-site. School staff is also supportive in which students can be excused from class to see their IWAY counselor. Transportation passes are available to youth so they can travel on-site and not think about expenses. To remove language barriers, counseling can be offered in the youth's preferred language, if we have the capacity. In the past, counselors offered services in Vietnamese and Mandarin. Staff can speak another language so youth or parents who have limited to no English skills, can approach staff who can speak their language. Staff also identifies as API. Culturally competent staff creates a more welcoming space for youth and parents. Lastly, we offer refreshments during wellness programs and counseling sessions. In Asian culture, food brings people together, and offering food is a welcoming gesture.