The origin of Asian Health & Service Center (AHSC) began in 1983, with the founding of the Chinese Social Service Center. A handful of earnest volunteers, headed by Dr. Erik Szeto, operated out of the basement of the Chinese Presbyterian Church in southeast Portland. Client thronged to the center and it soon became apparent we needed to become stronger and more versatile advocates for the Chinese immigrant community. This would require expanding our vision, space, and services.
In 1996, the Center bloomed into the Chinese Service Center. Three years later, expansion was essential and the center moved to a 3,000 square foot building on Powell Boulevard. From there it proceeded to strengthen its culturally competent mental health program, its community and public health programs, and its family and youth services. In 1999, the Center’s now abundantly successful Yu Miao Chinese Immersion Preschool took root.
In 2002, the Center expanded to cover 9,000 square foot of the building and with the generous and undaunted help of donors and volunteers; we realized our long time vision – to assist all underserved Asians. Thus, we changed our name to the Asian Health & Service Center (AHSC). Two years later in 2001, the AHSC opened an office in Beaverton and also partnered with the National College of Natural Medicine to open the Chinese Medicine Clinic in Portland. In 2007, the Yu Miao Chinese Immersion Preschool further expanded and became the State’s First Certified Chinese Immersion Preschool and Day Care program in Oregon.
In March of 2008, we moved to a 12,000 square foot, two-story building at 3430 SE Powell Boulevard. This space helps us meet the rising needs of Portland’s rapidly growing Asian community, serving Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian sub-populations. We also added Senior Asian Lunch Program in April 2009. Once relying on volunteers and a few employees, AHSC now functions through the efforts of more than 30 multilingual and multicultural staff members, who hail from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States.