Ca Care Association’s Collaboration with Kapwa Connect

Los Angeles, California - Ca Care Association - Kapwa Connect Resource Fair, a community collaboration with Orange County Social Services Agency, CalOptima Health, Diocese of Orange San Jose Filipino Ministry, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, SoCal Filipinos, Ca Care Association, Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center, and Community Action Partnership, was held last January 24 at Anaheim, California. 

Filipino families face cultural barriers when seeking assistance, rooted in a cultural mindset of self-reliance, which led to the creation of this community collaboration. Ca Care Association explained that, “There is a strong emphasis on faith, family, and our sense of bayanihan, but we realized that here in Orange County, there is a lack of a cultural safety net.” 

Kapwa Connect was a free community event to bridge services and empower the community by connecting Filipino families, caregivers, and community members to public benefits, health services, and trusted local resources.  It consisted of two complementary programs for the Filipino community, the “Filipino Resource Fair” and the “Sama-sama sa Serbisyo.” 

The “Filipino Resource Fair” provided free dental, vision, and health screenings, CalFresh and Medi-Cal enrollment assistance, and community resource referrals and support from the local community partners. While the “Sama-sama sa Serbisyo” showcased a webinar series hosted by CA Care Association, with panels from County of Orange Social Services Agency staff. 

The event was participated in by various community partners, sponsors, organizations, and members of the Filipino community.