The Union of Pan Asian Communities Records document the organization’s social service programs for Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees (including Cambodian, Hmong, Loation, and Vietnamese) in the San Diego metropolitan area.  UPAC’s programming addressed the community organizing, health, educational, employment training, housing, and mental health needs of the immigrant & refugee community. Several programs placed special emphasis on services for the youth and the elderly. The collection includes a wide variety of documents, including correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, service logs, project proposals, grant applications & grant progress reports, newsletters & newspapers

The collection is arranged into five series: UPAC Administrative Files (1967-1983), Indochinese Service center (ISC) Administrative Files (1975-1982), Program Files (1974-1987), Subject Files (1970-1987), Audio Visual Media (1970-1981).

The Administrative Files (1967-1983) document UPAC’s internal operations, including the agendas and minutes of the Board of Directors’ meetings; staff meeting agendas and minutes; correspondence; program and policy documents; staff training documents; and policy & program planning materials.

The Indochinese Service Center (ISC) Administrative Files (1975-1982) include agendas and minutes of Board meetings, including those of the ISC’s Advisory Board; Community Liaison monthly reports; client outreach logs; correspondence; staff monthly reports; and logs of the ISC’s Title XX (Social Security Act Block Grants) supported information and referral service. The ISC began in 1975 as the Vietnamese Information and Referral Center sponsored by UPAC. UPAC acted as a contractor for the ISC, and UPAC’s Executive Director delegated personnel, program, and financial responsibilities to the ISC Director. ISC’s Advisory Committee was composed of six members representing the Indochinese communities and agencies serving Indochinese refugees. In 1976-1978 ISC’s funding increased with support from San Diego County’s Human Care Services program, and then the State of California’s Department of Social Services’ Indochinese Refugee Assistance Program (IRAP) funds provided under Title XX. The ISC’s initial programming focused providing refugees with orientations on life in the United States, and information & referral services, but by 1979, the ISC shifted its focus to the health needs of Indochinese refugees. By 1981, the ISC was serving over 500 families per month, and the ISC’s emphasis had shifted to coordination of services with existing agencies and indigenous organizations, such as Indochinese mutual assistance associations.

The Program Files (1974-1987) document UPAC’s social service programs for Southeast Asian immigrants & refugees, including: Community Organizing/Planning program, to “develop a community planning model in the first Supervisorial District, Administer a needs assessment survey in National City to assess community needs and gaps, and to provide program and community development assistance to the Pan Asian communities”. (Box 8/Fol. 2)

Indochinese Community Education and Health Project (ICHE), intended to impact the existing mental health services delivery system through the provision of Indochinese cultural awareness training to 200 mental health practitioners and officials through seminars.

Indochinese Youth Corps, which provided developmental opportunities for youth in problem solving, organizing, and active participation in the community.

Indirect Services provided training workshops, coordination and information sharing with other agencies, and a resource library.

UPAC’s Pan Asian Bulletin/Lua Viet Newsletter program, which provided community news and social service information, and published Vietnamese, Loation, Hmong, and Cambodian language editions.

Orientation program, providing audiovisual presentations on American culture, banking, consumer education, employment and job interviews, housing & home utilities (gas, electric, and water), and transportation. 

Pacific Asian Preventative Program (PAPP), providing preventive mental health services to Pan Asian residents in San Diego County.

Pan Asian Senior Services (PASS) program, providing home help and social services to limited English speaking seniors.

Pan Asian Youth Study, a needs assessment of Pacific Asian youth in San Diego County.

Project PACE (Pacific Asian Culture and Education), which provided a summer recreational/cultural program for Pan Asian youth.

Project Saladbowl, which provided a multicultural summer recreational for San Diego area youth.

Special Services program, providing “social services to individuals and families who because of language and cultural barriers do not utilize or experience difficulty in obtaining services from traditional community resources, in order to obtain a more satisfactory level of social functioning”. (Box 8/Fol. 1)

Several programs operated by other organizations partnered with UPAC include the Asian American Mental Health Federation; California Council for the Humanities; Home Help (San Diego County Office of Senior Citizens Affairs); National Pacific Asian Resource Center on Aging; and the San Diego Regional Youth Employment Program.

The Subject Files (1974-1987) include issues and programs of interest to UPAC’s social service mission.

Notable subjects include: Southeast Asian immigrant & refugee communities in San Diego; the Community Congress of San Diego; education at the state and local levels, including files on the San Diego City schools; bilingual education; services for elderly, women, and youth refugees; health services; housing; Pendleton Refugee Education Program (Project PREP); San Diego County’s Public Welfare Advisory Committee; Title XX services; and the United Way.

The Audio Visual Materials (1970-1981) include 35mm color slides and audiocassette tapes used in UPAC’s orientation presentations (slide shows) for immigrants & refugees.