First Vietnamese American Service Center Opening Its Doors in Santa Clara County
The resource hub in East San José will offer a wide range of services in Vietnamese and Spanish
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.— This month, the Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC) will become the first one-stop location in Santa Clara County to offer a wide range of services in Vietnamese and Spanish, a long-awaited development that will bring more equitable resources to the county’s diverse residents. The center, located at 2410 Senter Road in East San José, will be a resource hub for culturally competent and language accessible health and human services.
“Santa Clara County is made up of many cultures and languages. The completion and opening of the VASC is a significant milestone in our goal to more fully represent our unique communities,” said County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “I’m extremely proud of the work that has been done to get us here and to have a County-operated center that offers services to our residents in a way that respects and celebrates the rich diversity they bring to our area.”
Despite Santa Clara County being home to the second largest Vietnamese population outside of Viet Nam, studies have shown significant health disparities among the community, perpetuated by cultural and language barriers to vital services. The VASC is designed to meet this need, County leaders say.
“For those who have struggled to make a doctor’s appointment, get food assistance, or find help with any number of life challenges because of language or cultural barriers, this center is for you,” said County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith, M.D., J.D. “We want this to be a place that welcomes residents of all cultural backgrounds – a place where they can feel supported and understood.”
The VASC will offer access to behavioral health services, primary care, dental care, social services, a senior nutrition program, on-site child supervision, a suite of community programming to promote wellness, and more. Language capacity at the center will include, at minimum, English, Vietnamese, and Spanish, reflecting the communities and populations that will be served at the Center. Limited services will begin in November, with plans for full operation by February 2022.
“These services are all connected to one’s wellbeing – not just physical but also mental and emotional,” said Betty Duong, manager for the VASC. “Being able to address these basic needs in the language you are most comfortable speaking, among a community of people who understand your cultural identity, is a big step toward equity.”
The public and the media are invited to a celebration at the VASC:
Saturday, October 23, at 12 p.m.
2410 Senter Road
San José, CA 95112
Registration is required to ensure COVID-19 protocols are met. PUBLIC PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE will be available at 1875 & 1877 Senter Rd, San José, CA 95112. There is NO public parking available at the Vietnamese American Service Center on the day of the event.
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ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, California, making it more populous than 14 states in the U.S. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.
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Media Contact: María Leticia Gómez/Quan Vu, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119, [email protected]; Betty Duong, VASC Manager, [email protected]
Posted: October 18, 2021