SANA: Support, Access, Navigation, Agency
providing whole-person wellness through four core pillars that uplift & empower the community
SIPA Health and Wellness Team Youtube Video - Meet the SIPA staff responsible for improving the holistic health and wellness of our HiFi community members!
Filipino Americans and immigrant families continue to experience major health disparities rooted in decades of unjust US immigration policies and generations’ worth of trauma only worsened by the racism and other consequences of the pandemic (Liwanag et al., 2021). SIPA’s Health and Wellness program aims to ensure communities have access to adequate, affordable healthcare resources, and are knowledgeable on how to access the information to promote healthier lifestyles. We do this through the following programs:
Health and Wellness Workshops
Systems navigation and referrals in legal and health access assistance
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Referrals
Community Gardens at our new HiFi Collective Location
Food Pantry
Community Education: Knowledge that empowers. Tools that Transform.
Interactive workshops, support groups, and learning series that promote health literacy, life skills, and mental wellness, building confidence and community resilience. .
Outreach: Showing up for our community, in our community.
We connect to the community by sharing resources, answering questions, and building trust through care and consistency.
Resource Navigation: Bridging Gaps, building futures.
Whether it’s housing, healthcare, or help in a crisis, we walk with you, step by step, to ensure no one has to navigate alone.
Mental Health Services
Mental Health First Aid
Learn how to recognize and support someone showing signs of mental health or substance use challenges. This training is approved by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and is available in two versions:
Adult MHFA – 6 hours
Youth MHFA – 5 hours (for adults who work with youth)
Support Groups
We offer safe and supportive spaces for youth and adults to share experiences, build connections, and feel seen. Our groups are rooted in cultural care and are designed for communities of color, including Filipino/a/x, AAPI, Latino/a/x/e, and other BIPOC identities.
Sessions are held weekly, either online or in-person, and feature topics like identity, loss, and community care. We also provide one-time healing circles in response to community crises or collective trauma—creating room for grounding, reflection, and mutual support when it’s needed most. Some groups are open to all participants, while others are closed to ensure privacy and safety.
Therapy Services
We offer individual therapy for youth and adults—both short-term and long-term—based on each person’s needs. Sessions are available online or in-person and focus on supporting emotional health, safety, and personal growth. Each person’s journey is unique, so we use care plans and practices that are tailored to their strengths and goals. No health insurance or citizenship status is required to receive services.
