APICHA: The First 10 Years

Because SPNS are demonstration programs, they require intensive evaluation. It's taken a long time to fully implement the data collection system, and APICHA is still exploring ways to reduce the data collection burden on staff and clients, but a large volume of data is now coming in. Preliminary analyses show that APICHA's more recent immigrant clients do have greater needs. Over the remaining two years of the project, APICHA hopes to continue collecting and analyzing data to show the impact on client's health and quality of life, and to remedy the critical lack of information about A&PIs living with HIV.

Emergency Funds for Needy Clients

Special funds were put in place to meet clients' emergency needs. The Glenn T. Izutsu Fund and the Acacia Fund provides funding for this program.

APICHA Move to Chelsea Office

In February 1995, APICHA moved into offices at 275 Seventh Avenue in the Chelsea district of Manhattan and an office in Jackson Heights, Queens. Sites were researched, political ties were strengthened, client needs were assessed and preparations were made to place APICHA in Queens where the population of Asians and Pacific Islanders has grown faster than anywhere else in the city.

In 1996, New York City Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi gave the Outstanding Asian American Award to John Manzon-Santos. The Board of APICHA gave John the Founding Executive Director's Award. In the fall, John announced his decision to leave APICHA and the Board began a search for the second executive director.

1997-99 It Takes a Whole Community to Stop AIDS

In March 1997, the Board selected Acting Executive Director Therese R. Rodriguez as the second Executive Director of APICHA. David D. Kim chaired the Board from April 1997 to June 1998 when Marianne Yoshioka accepted the position of chair.