This blog post was written by Leslie Stewart, Youth Development Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service.

Since then, United Way of King County has supported additional programs that ACRS launched to address the needs of our communities.

With a mission rooted in social justice, ACRS serves as a direct service provider, community convener, and advocate for A&NH/PI immigrant, refugee, and U.S.-born communities. We work to counter systemic oppression and expand opportunities for all Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color (BIPOC) and other marginalized and under-resourced communities in the Puget Sound region.  

ACRS’s Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) program was launched in 1993 and has continued to adapt and expand to meet the intersectional needs of BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities through a continuum of care—from positive youth development, prevention, and early intervention to clinical mental health treatment.

Through a variety of community and school-based programs, support groups for cultural-based healing, individual counseling, and campaigns to educate and build awareness, ACRS’ Children, Youth, and Families team tailors responsive programs and services to the evolving behavioral health needs of these children, youth, and young adults navigating complex identities, family dynamics, and life challenges and transitions—empowering them to heal, grow, and thrive.  

Our Youth Development programs within the CYF Department offer a variety of supports, such as the Queer Opportunities to Lead Organize and Reflect (QOLOR) program for Queer and Trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC) and all BIPOC youth at Aki Kurose Middle School, one of Seattle’s most racially diverse schools. These programs support youth through trauma-informed, culturally affirming care.

Many of these youth come from low-income, non-English-speaking households and face systemic barriers to accessing mental health support. These programs reinforce critical protective factors, including building resilience, cultivating connectedness to schools and the community, developing positive peer relationships, building confidence and essential life skills, and fostering a community of recognition and support for participating youth and young adults. 

United Way has supported QOLOR since its formative stage began.  QOLOR is a school-based program that officially launched in 2023 to address the urgent needs of QTBIPOC youth—particularly A&NH/PI students—at Aki Kurose Middle School in Seattle through prevention, intervention, and referral to mental health resources.

These youth face disproportionately high rates of suicide, stigma, and isolation, compounded by cultural barriers and a lack of affirming support. With United Way’s support and trust, we have been able to authentically deliver this program in a way that is youth-led, creative, and deeply engaging for the youth in our community. This program would not have been as successful without United Way’s belief in us and the freedom to experiment with approaches that align with our overall vision for QTBIPOC youth.  

Since then, we have been able to provide a safe space for QTBIPOC/LGBTQIA+ youth to build community and a sense of belonging, while also learning about important topics such as healthy relationships, mental health and well-being, communication skills, substance use, and an evidence-based curriculum for sexual assault and domestic violence prevention geared towards middle school youth. 

We engage in fun activities that involve creative expression through art and pop culture. Our programs are offered during the school year and in the summer, enabling youth to attend field trips and earn small stipends.

In 2024, Aki Kurose Middle asked ACRS to launch an Asian Girls group at the school, and again, United Way supported the pilot.  We have since renamed the group Lotus Circle, and due to its success, we have secured additional funding to support it. 

Thank you, United Way, for your ongoing support over the years!