QUEENS, NY – New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan visited two leading Korean American community-based organizations —Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS) and the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) — to discuss available state mental health resources and recognize the critical work these organizations are doing to support the mental health and well-being of Korean American communities.

The visit was organized by Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, who is a strong advocate for culturally competent care and community empowerment. The delegation included Assemblymember Ron Kim and representatives from Governor Hochul’s and Speaker Carl Heastie’s offices.

During the visit, Dr. Sullivan and her team met with staff and leadership at KCS and KAFSC to hear about their culturally and linguistically appropriate services, including mental health counseling, domestic violence prevention, senior care, and youth programs. The conversations centered around how state partnerships can be strengthened to meet the growing mental health needs of Korean Americans and other underserved immigrant populations.

“Community-based organizations like KCS and KAFSC are lifelines for immigrant families navigating mental health challenges and trauma,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “Bringing Commissioner Sullivan directly into the community ensures that culturally competent voices are shaping the future of our mental health system. I’m proud to have helped facilitate this important dialogue.”

“We must build systems of care that meet people where they are—especially in immigrant communities that often go unseen,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim. “KCS and KAFSC exemplify what grassroots, culturally informed care looks like, and I thank Commissioner Sullivan for recognizing their work.”

“KCS and KAFSC are doing extraordinary work to ensure that Korean American families have access to services that are not only effective but also respectful of their culture and language,” said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan. “It’s vital that we continue building partnerships with trusted community organizations like these to break down stigma, expand access, and bring mental health resources to every corner of New York.”

“Mental health is vitally important — and our community deserves access to care that reflects who we are,” said Myoungmi Kim, Executive Director of Korean Community Services (KCS). “We’re grateful to Commissioner Sullivan and our legislative partners like Assemblymembers Kim and Rozic for recognizing the role organizations like ours play in building healthy, resilient families.”

“At KAFSC, we know that healing begins with safety, trust, and cultural understanding,” said Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director of the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC). “This visit marks an important step in deepening state-community collaboration to support survivors of trauma and create long-term pathways to wellness.”

KCS and KAFSC both emphasized the importance of expanding access to state resources and increasing support for bilingual providers as well as culturally affirmative care and outreach.

Commissioner Sullivan expressed her appreciation for their work and reaffirmed OMH’s commitment to addressing disparities in mental health access across the state.