NICOS Chinese Health Coalition is a public-private-community partnership of more than 30 health and human service organizations. NICOS' mission is to enhance the health and wellness of San Francisco's Chinese community. Since 1985, NICOS has been engaged in research, training, advocacy, resource development, and program implementation for the benefit of this population and the organizations that serve it.
As detailed below, NICOS' membership includes health care agencies, educational institutions, housing and community development organizations, and many providers of services to children, youth, families and seniors.
American Cancer Society —The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine — The Mission of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to provide exemplary professional education and quality patient care in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
American Heart Association —The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."
Asian American Recovery Services —The mission of AARS is to decrease the incidence and impact of substance abuse in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of the greater San Francisco Bay Area counties. To accomplish this mission, AARS develops and provides innovative prevention, treatment and research services for individuals, families and communities. AARS recognizes there are multiple causes and effects of substance abuse and responds in a comprehensive manner to address the life issues of persons affected by substance use.
Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum —The Health Forum is a national advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policy, program, and research efforts to improve the health and well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Founded in 1986, the Health Forum approaches activities with the philosophy of coalition-building and developing capacity within local AAPI communities. We advocate on health issues of significance to AAPI communities, conduct community-based technical assistance and training, provide health and U.S. Census data analysis and information dissemination, and convene regional and national conferences on AAPI health.
Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center —To educate, support, empower and advocate for Asian and Pacific Islander communities – particularly A&PIs living with, or at-risk for, HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1987 as a grassroots response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in communities of color, A&PI Wellness Center is the oldest nonprofit organization in North America focusing on A & PI communities around sexual health and HIV/AIDS services.
APA Family Support Services —APA is a non-profit child abuse and domestic violence prevention agency with offices at San Francisco General Hospital and Chinatown to serve at-risk, low-income Asian and Pacific Islander families. As a comprehensive family support center, our organization consists of bilingual and bicultural professionals and experienced family visitors to help build healthy and stable Asian and Pacific Islander families in San Francisco. Our services include bilingual home visitation, enhanced visitation, domestic violence support groups, support groups for parents and caregivers, parenting education classes, infant care workshops, bilingual counseling, and economic self-sufficiency programs.
Asian Women’s Resource Center —The AWRC provides a wide range of services for low-income monolingual immigrant Asian women and children. AWRC offers opportunities for cross-cultural experiences, self-improvement and leadership development which is open to all members of our community. Currently our services include: Transitional Housing, Survival English Program, Parent-Child Development Program, Summer School, After School Tutorial Program, Informational and Referral Services, as well as Cultural, Social and Recreational Programs.
Chinatown Child Development Center —The Chinatown Child Development Center is a child and family outpatient clinic which is the administration of the Community Mental Health Services of the Department of Public Health, City and County of San Francisco. Mission: To promote the emotional well-being of the children of San Francisco through the provision of outreach, mental health education, early intervention, and mental health services in a linguistically and culturally appropriate model in a community setting. Services are available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cambodian.
Chinatown Community Development Center —Chinatown CDC’s mission is to build community and enhance the quality of life for San Franciscans. Based in Chinatown, we are a community development organization serving as neighborhood advocates, organizers, planners, and developers of affordable housing.
Chinatown/ North Beach Mental Health Services (DPH) —CTNBMHS offers an array of mental health services to adolescents, adults, and older adults primarily from the Chinatown and North Beach areas. Services include psychiatric evaluation, individual/ family therapy, groups, medications, urgent care, crisis outreach, acupuncture, case management, and adult/ older adult day rehabilitation/ socialization program, consultation & education.
Chinatown Public Health Center (DPH) —CPHC is part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. It is a community based Public Health Center and has the following services: Primary Care Clinic for person of all ages. The patient population is largely Chinese persons many of whom are new immigrants, low income and monolingual Chinese speaking. Other services include Public Health Nursing for home based services, Nutrition services, Health Education programs, and a Dental Clinic for children and youth. There are Eligibility Workers who assist clients in seeking available insurance/ payor coverage. The Center celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2001.
Chinatown YMCA —The Chinatown YMCA, a branch of the San Francisco YMCA, builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities by enriching the lives of all people in spirit, mind and body.
Chinese Community Health Care Association —The Chinese Community Health Care Association is a non profit mutual benefit association of over 150 members of the Chinese Hospital Medical Staff providing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health services in a managed care environment to the community. In partnership with Chinese Hospital and the Chinese Community Health Plan, it also sponsors the Chinese Community Health Resource Center which publishes a quarterly health newsletter, and offers health education classes and counseling to the community. CCHCA also sponsors medical education and medical research programs, and underwrites the physician costs for the twenty-our hour treatment center at Chinese Hospital.
Chinese Community Health Plan —Chinese Community Health Plan (CCHP) is a San Francisco based HMO which endeavors to deliver quality and cost effective health care, responsive to the community’s ethnic and cultural uniqueness. CCHP prides itself in providing access to health care and acceptability to all socioeconomic levels.
Chinese Community Health Resource Center—The Center’s mission is to build a healthy community through culturally and linguistically competent preventive health, disease management, and research programs.
Chinese Hospital — Chinese Hospital is a unique healthcare provider within the City and County of San Francisco, with a long and rich history of providing access to culturally competent health care services for the Chinese Community. The hospital is a community owned, non-profit organization which provides primary and secondary inpatient and outpatient care. It is licensed for 59 acute beds, with two surgical suites and an Intensive Care Unit. Outpatient care is offered at the 24-hour Treatment Center, Same Day Surgery Unit, and the Western San Francisco Community Clinic.
Chinese Hospital Medical Staff —Chinese Hospital Medical Staff, a non-profit organization, is an ethnically oriented, culturally sensitive Medical staff, which is committed to promoting community health and wellness by providing care, which is: High quality; Accessible; Culturally Competent/ Sensitive; Cost Effective; and Collaborative with Chinese Hospital, other Health Care Professionals, and Healthcare Systems and the Community.
Chinese Newcomers Service Center —The Chinese Newcomers Service Center (CNSC) provides multilingual services that help Chinese immigrants adapt to life in the United States. CNSC serves as a bridge between the two cultures, enhancing the physical, mental, social and economic well-being of immigrants, thus facilitating their efforts to become self-sufficient, contributing members of the community.
Commodore Stockton Children’s Center —Commodore Stockton Children’s Center provides quality child development program for pre-kindergarten children as well as before and after school care for school age children.
Community Mental Health —Children’s Services (DPH)
Community Youth Center San Francisco (CYC) —A community-based multi-service non-profit agency that serves and empowers youth and their families to become responsible members of society. CYC provides valuable academic resources and counseling to aid youth in their high school completion and college preparation or in preparing for the GED; Family and Youth Educators provide support groups and outreach to youth in an effort to prevent delinquent behaviors; Offer of substance abuse prevention services aiming to prevent and reduce substance use among Asians; Provide crisis intervention and family counseling to youth and their families; Assist youths with after-school and summer employment placements.
Donaldina Cameron House —Donaldina Cameron House is a faith based organization providing social services and youth services in Chinatown. The Social Service Department serves Asian domestic violence victims, provide support groups for mono-lingual cancer patients and single parent families. Youth Department serves immigrant youths through a M-F Bilingual After-School program and a Summer Bilingual Youth Program. Jr. & Sr. high youths are served through a year round club program and summer day camp program.
Gordon J. Lau Elementary School —At Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, all children can learn. Students are provided with continuous learning experiences which develop and extend academic skills, promote and enrich learning opportunities and emphasize positive social growth and interaction. The primary goal of this school is to provide children with skills which will enable them to fulfill their potential as individuals and as responsible, successful, and contributing members of a global society.
Healthy Children Organizing Project — Healthy Children Organizing Project is formerly known as the Lead Poisoning Prevention Project, a Project of Consumer Action. The Project works with numerous child and health care organizations as well as other community-based groups, advocating screening and testing of children, reduction of lead contamination in homes and the environment. HCOP’s goal is to help disadvantaged communities to build their capacities to have healthy children, decent housing and job/ career opportunities in protecting children from preventable diseases caused by their environment.
Kai Ming Inc., Head Start —Kai Ming provides free preschool to children 3 to 5 years old from low-income families. Head Start services include: health education, nutrition, mental health, and family services such as workshops and referrals.
Kaiser Permanente — As a health care organization in the 21st century, we have a mission--to provide quality care for our members and their families, and to contribute to the well-being of our communities.
Newcomers Health Program (DPH) —The Newcomers Health Program is a clinic- and community-based health program for refugees, asylees and immigrants. Our staff collaborates with health centers, community-based organizations and public health programs to respond to the health and social needs of refugee, asylee and immigrant communities. Currently, the communities we work most closely with are Chinese asylees, Russian-speaking immigrants and Bosnian refugees. We also have a new initiative with chronic cardiovascular disease prevention, healthy living workshops and activity groups in the community.
North East Medical Services —NEMS is a comprehensive, outpatient community health center located in San Francisco serving the residents of the Bay Area for over 30 years. NEMS provides medial, dental, optometry, labs, x-ray, pharmacy, health education, and nutrition services to a large Asian population. NEMS serves many medically indigent and uninsured monolingual patients.
On Lok Lifeways —A health plan that covers long-term and acute care for frail seniors in San Francisco. Our mission is to help frail seniors to continue to remain at their own homes for as long as possible and prevent them from premature nursing home placement.
Richmond Area Multi-Services Center —Founded in 1974, Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) is a private, non-profit mental health agency that is committed to providing community-based, culturally competent, and consumer-guided services that meet the mental health vocational, social, residential, and educational needs of the diverse San Francisco community.
San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club —The San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club was chartered on June 7, 1952. We sponsor the San Francisco Chinatown Leo Club, a leadership forum for young people. Also, we initiated and sponsored the San Francisco Bay Area New Century Lions Club for members age 35 and under to join.
San Francisco Health Plan —San Francisco Health Plan (SFHP) provides affordable health coverage to uninsured children in San Francisco. We are a non-profit health plan locally designed solely for the members we serve. SFHP meets the unique needs of San Francisco’s culturally and socially diverse communities by providing trustworthy health care in a respectful manner.
Self Help for the Elderly —Established in 1966, Self-Help for the Elderly is a multi-service organization serving over 25,000 seniors in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. Programs are provided along a spectrum of aging services from senior centers, employment programs and housing to adult day health centers, residential care facilities and licensed homecare/hospice.
St. Mary’s Day School —St. Mary’s offers a traditional K-8 elementary school, a Chinese language school and Tea House-a social services department.
Wu-Yee Children’s Services — Established in 1977, our mission is to promote the healthy development of children and families by providing high quality, linguistically and culturally appropriate children and family support services.
