History

Dr. Erik Szeto founded AHSC in 1983 to bring social services to Oregon’s steadily growing Chinese immigrant population. The center, then called the Chinese Social Service Center, operated out of the basement of Chinese Presbyterian Church in Southeast Portland. As time passed and the client base increased, the center saw a need to grow and become a stronger entity that advocates for the Chinese immigrant community.

In 1996, the center expanded and dropped “Social” from its name, becoming the Chinese Service Center. Three years later, to remove any presumed association with the Presbyterian Church, the center moved to a three-story building off Powell Boulevard, near 39th Avenue. With a strong foundation, the center was able to expand and strengthen its culturally competent mental health program, community and senior programs, and family and youth services. The center was also able to begin two services: an addiction treatment program and a Chinese immersion preschool.

In 2002, the center underwent more changes. With the help of donors and fundraising, the center expanded once again, following its larger vision – to assist all underserved Asians. The center once again took on a new name, becoming the Asian Health & Service Center. Two years later, AHSC opened an office in Beaverton to better serve its clients in Washington County.

Today, AHSC serves predominately Chinese and Korean residents, though it is always looking for ways to serve more Asian subpopulations. Once relying on volunteers and a few employees, AHSC now functions through the efforts of more than 20 multilingual and multicultural staff members, who come from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States.