We convene a data equity workgroup in partnership with the California Department of Public Health, to ensure data laws are compliant and best practices are institutionalized. We focus on Assembly Bill 1726 as a case study, which mandates the disaggregation of health indicators into more specific AA and NHPI subgroups.
Key resource:
This policy brief presents key challenges to implementing California Assembly Bill 1726, which passed in 2016 and requires the California Department of Public Health to break down broad demographic data it collects into more specific Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups.
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SEARAC Policy Brief Highlights Opportunities, Challenges to Achieve Data Equity for AA and NHPI Communities in California
SEARAC is proud to release “AB 1726: A California Case Study on Disaggregating Public Health Data by Race and Ethnicity,” a new policy brief that presents key challenges to implementing California Assembly Bill 1726, which passed in 2016 and requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to break down broad demographic data it collects into more specific Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) subgroups.
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“Data disaggregation is a decades-long advocacy issue that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities have fought for and will continue to fight for until our communities are thriving. EPIC understands data disaggregation is one of the critical ways to uncover and address NHPI health and social inequities. AB 1726 would make the health outcomes of additional NHPI ethnic groups including Tongans and Fijians visible.”
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
“Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) experience unique health inequities due to our experiences with war, genocide, and displacement. For example, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for SEAAs in California, potentially linked to toxic chemicals used during the violence in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Almost half of SEAA Californians are limited English proficient and experience linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing care. Community leaders and policymakers need disaggregated data in order to identify disparities various populations face and create evidence-based solutions that improve health outcomes for all.”
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Latest related posts
“Our history deserves recognition, and our communities deserve repair. Fifty years after SEAAs arrived on American shores, we are still asking for the same things: safety, dignity, and belonging.”
SEARAC recently co-authored an op-ed with @legaciesofwar for @asamnews urging our allies to not just uplift Southeast Asian American voices and experiences this AANHPI Heritage Month, but to also take action to defend and protect our communities. 2025 marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement and this moment compels us to remember the violent histories that forced Southeast Asians to flee their homelands and to fight for the justice our communities deserve.
Read the full article at the link in our bio.
This month is Give in May and you can support SEARAC and Southeast Asian American community power at bit.ly/donatetosearac
Posted @withregram • @legaciesofwar Imagine being a refugee forced to flee your homeland, only to find that the fight for survival continues–and is perpetuated by–your new home. Seeking refuge from genocide, war, and political persecution, Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) migrated in droves to the United States and today comprise a powerful community of over 3 million residents. Their continued struggle against systemic exclusion, displacement, and long-lasting impacts of American foreign policy, however, is rendered invisible by the uniformly “thriving” Asian American model minority myth.
Millions of unexploded ordnance, the dangerous remnants of the United States’ Secret Wars, still remain buried beneath the soil of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is imperative that the U.S confront its legacy in Southeast Asia, both through continued funding for bomb clearance and ending the deportation of SEAAs, many of whom were brought here as children and now face the prospect of being torn from their families. American war actions have forced the violent displacement of SEAA’s–and its foreign policy continues to do so in the present.
May 28
“Our history deserves recognition, and our communities deserve repair. Fifty years after SEAAs arrived on American shores, we are still asking for the same things: safety, dignity, and belonging.”
SEARAC recently co-authored an op-ed with @legaciesofwar for @asamnews urging our allies to not just uplift Southeast Asian American voices and experiences this AANHPI Heritage Month, but to also take action to defend and protect our communities. 2025 marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement and this moment compels us to remember the violent histories that forced Southeast Asians to flee their homelands and to fight for the justice our communities deserve.
Read the full article at the link in our bio.
This month is Give in May and you can support SEARAC and Southeast Asian American community power at bit.ly/donatetosearac
Posted @withregram • @legaciesofwar Imagine being a refugee forced to flee your homeland, only to find that the fight for survival continues–and is perpetuated by–your new home. Seeking refuge from genocide, war, and political persecution, Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) migrated in droves to the United States and today comprise a powerful community of over 3 million residents. Their continued struggle against systemic exclusion, displacement, and long-lasting impacts of American foreign policy, however, is rendered invisible by the uniformly “thriving” Asian American model minority myth.
Millions of unexploded ordnance, the dangerous remnants of the United States’ Secret Wars, still remain buried beneath the soil of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is imperative that the U.S confront its legacy in Southeast Asia, both through continued funding for bomb clearance and ending the deportation of SEAAs, many of whom were brought here as children and now face the prospect of being torn from their families. American war actions have forced the violent displacement of SEAA’s–and its foreign policy continues to do so in the present.
“Despite creeping despair, however, I know I am forever empowered by those who came before me: My parents have always been fighters, as have all of us Southeast Asian Americans. We will continue to fight these injustices, to rest to heal ourselves and our communities, and to share joys that cannot be taken from us.”
This #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we are highlighting C To’s recent blog on for the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. C To’s blog reminds us that the Southeast Asian American diaspora carry forth the vision of our parents, elders, and ancestors before us. We carry on their legacy by fighting for justice and equity for all and remembering joy. Read the full post at the link in our bio!
Read more:
#HealthEquity #SEAAVoices #SocialJustice #AANHPI
May 26
“Despite creeping despair, however, I know I am forever empowered by those who came before me: My parents have always been fighters, as have all of us Southeast Asian Americans. We will continue to fight these injustices, to rest to heal ourselves and our communities, and to share joys that cannot be taken from us.”
This #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we are highlighting C To’s recent blog on for the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. C To’s blog reminds us that the Southeast Asian American diaspora carry forth the vision of our parents, elders, and ancestors before us. We carry on their legacy by fighting for justice and equity for all and remembering joy. Read the full post at the link in our bio!
Read more:
#HealthEquity #SEAAVoices #SocialJustice #AANHPI
California’s health care delivery system is stronger and more stable when everyone is covered and healthy – regardless of their immigration status. Without access to preventative care, already overburdened emergency rooms get busier with cases that could have been treated in a doctor’s office.
May 25
California’s health care delivery system is stronger and more stable when everyone is covered and healthy – regardless of their immigration status. Without access to preventative care, already overburdened emergency rooms get busier with cases that could have been treated in a doctor’s office.
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
May 23
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."
May 22
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."