About

The Asian Pacific Development Center is a community-based, nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) organization founded in 1980 to serve the needs of a growing population of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) residents throughout Colorado.

Our Purpose:

To promote wellness and self sufficiency among immigrant and refugee families through culturally sensitive and linguistically proficient services.

Our Vision:

The premiere provider of culturally relevant services empowering and enriching immigrant and refugee lives.

Our Mission:

To advance the well-being of the Asian American Pacific Islander community by providing culturally appropriate and integrated medical, behavioral and related services.

APDC Core Values

  • We Strive to be a leader of integrated care services to benefit our communities.
  • We strive to be community-driven by seeing the needs of the clients as the driving force behind the decisions we make.
  • We treat each client and each other with dignity and respect.
  • We strive to be culturally competent.
  • We are a resource to others.
  • We educate and enhance our clients’ livelihoods by promoting their health and well-being.
  • We are accountable to ourselves and to our communities.
  • We strive to provide services that are accessible and affordable.
  • We strive to include the diversity of people represented in our community on our staff and board.

Our History:

In the late 1970’s there was a surge of Southeast Asian immigrants who sought refuge in Colorado from their countries of origin.  The needs of these individuals and families were clearly undeniable and important.  A group of professionals consisting of social workers, attorneys, psychologists and psychiatrists who served this group of individuals and families recognized that it was time to take action on a larger scale and began to advocate for these communities.  In 1980, the Asian Human Services Association and Park East Mental Health Center applied for funding through the U.S. Government Office of Refugee Resettlement to address the mental health needs of this community facing stress of cultural alienation and minimal resources.  This funding was successfully obtained and services were provided in a unified vision.

The 501-(c)3 non-profit organization soon learned the broad array of needs and diversity that existed in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and began to diversify it’s services.  In 1987, the State Division of Mental Health floated a bond that allowed APDC to purchase a building (1825 York Street).  The needs of these communities stretched beyond the scope of mental health services, so the Asian/ Pacific Center for Human Development was formed.  Asian American Foundation of Colorado was created to raise funding to support the wide variety of health and mental health services that the parent agency APDC provides today.

Our Communities:

Approximately 74% of the AAPI population in Colorado is immigrant-status so the language and culture are significant factors that need to be addressed for access to services and effective implementation of community outreach and education.  APDC strives to remain culturally sensitive and cognizant of the changing needs of the communities served. Participating Communities include but are not limited to the Cambodian, Chinese/Taiwanese, Hmong, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Laotian and Vietnamese communities.