action research
CACF disseminates timely, action research to highlight the needs of underserved Asian Pacific American children, youth, and families and to provide recommendations on policies and practices to effectively address these needs.
Current Research projects
- Breaking Down Barriers – Immigrant families do not have equal access to quality early childhood education programs, as 60 percent of immigrant children are cared for by relatives. Breaking Down Barriers is a groundbreaking research project aiming to improve early childhood education programs for Dominican, Chinese, Haitian, Russian, Bangladeshi, and Korean families. CACF will release the policy brief in early 2008.
- Recording Voices – Many Asian Pacific American youth translate for their limited English proficient parents because of the lack of translation and interpretation services in schools and hospitals. Recording Voices is a landmark research project to document the prevalence of language brokers in the Asian Pacific American community and the impact of language brokering on family dynamics. CACF will release the report in early 2008.
Previous Research projects
- Connecting the Dots: Improving the Neighborhood-Based Child Welfare Services for Asian Pacific American Families – New York City's child welfare system is not yet prepared to handle the existing Asian Pacific American population, let alone its increase. For example, the total number of families in the New York City child welfare system has decreased by 50 percent in the past decade, but the percentage of Asian Pacific American families in this system has remained constant during that same time. Unfortunately, only five Asian Pacific American community based organizations are contracted to provide child abuse preventive services. Released in March 2007 as a follow-up to Crossing the Divide, this report critically analyzes the needs of Asian Pacific American families, the barriers to accessing child welfare services, and the opportunities to develop collaboration with the Asian Pacific American community.
- Building Bridges: Increasing Language Access for the Asian Pacific American Community of New York City – In New York City, Asian Pacific Americans have the highest percentage (28%) of any racial group to speak English "not well" or "not at all." Released in January 2006, this policy brief examines the quality of translation and interpretation services in the education, child welfare, and mental health systems of New York City. As the Asian Pacific American population continues to grow, this policy brief explains why language access to necessary services is crucial for ensuring this community's important role in supporting the vitality and economy of New York City.
- Hidden in Plain View: An Overview of the Needs of Asian American Students in the Public School System – Asian Pacific American students make up over 13 percent of the New York City public school system. One out of every four Asian Pacific American student does not graduate from high school on time or at all, and one out of every five English Language Learner student speaks an Asian language. However, Asian Pacific American students continue to be overlooked for services because of the model minority stereotype. In May 2004, CACF released Hidden in Plain View as the first report ever to address the issues faced by Asian Pacific American students in New York City public schools.
- Crossing the Divide: Asian American Families and The Child Welfare System – Community experts concur that increasing numbers of Asian American children will be reported to the child welfare system in the coming years, due to demographic growth and changes in the community. Language and cultural barriers to the child welfare system will continue to cause increases in unnecessary removals of children from their homes and in the time children linger in foster care without permanency. Released in January 2002, Crossing the Divide is the first-ever major report to address issues surrounding child abuse and neglect in the Asian American community and the City's child welfare system dealing with these issues.