For APALRC's current strategic plan, please click here: APALRC Strategic Plan 2010-2015

Programs:

APALRC advocates for the legal and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the D.C. metropolitan region through activities in two program areas: Direct Legal Services and Advocacy. The APALRC's recent accomplishments in each of the program areas are highlighted in our latest newsletter: 2009/2010 Newsletter.

Direct Legal Services:

The helpline and interpreter projects were founded on the principle that before launching into its own direct legal services program, APALRC first needed to work with existing legal services providers to address the language and cultural barriers that were preventing their services from reaching the Asian American community.  Operating these projects over the years has enabled us to clearly identify gaps in the legal services delivery system where we continue to encounter difficulties in finding adequate referrals for individuals calling the helpline.

In response to these gaps, in 2004, APALRC achieved a major turning point in its history by expanding its services beyond intake and referrals to include direct legal representation.  APALRC currently provides legal advice and representation on various legal matters, including domestic violence and family law, immigration, housing, and employment, to low-income, limited-English proficient Asian Americans in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. 

Advocacy:

As a founder and fiscal agent of the D.C. Language Access Coalition, APALRC advocates for full and equal access to the D.C. government programs and services-- particularly in the areas of health, welfare, education, housing and employment benefits-- for the D.C.’s estimated 39,000 non-English speakers, including Asian Americans.  The APALRC’s leadership on this issue led to the successful passage of the 2004 D.C. Language Access Act – considered the most comprehensive language access law in the country – which requires that government services be accessible to those with limited-English skills.