Iu Mien Community Services (IMCS) was founded in 1994 by traditional Iu Mien community leaders' intent on developing a unified and systematic approach to preserving the Iu Mien culture and addressing the many problems besetting Sacramento's Iu Mien community. A non-literate Southeast Asian hill tribe, the Iu Mien started arriving in the U.S. in the late 1970s, victims of the Vietnam war. To address the community's many glaring needs, IMCS incorporated and achieved tax exempt status in 2001. Since its founding, it has compiled an impressive record of assistance to the Iu Mien community.
Please visit our website at unitediumien.org to learn more about our programs and services.
Vital Weekly Programs this fundraiser will support:
Healthy Village Senior Program
The Healthy Village Senior Program is a culturally responsive aging services initiative designed to improve mental health, social connection, and overall wellness among low-income Iu Mien older adults in Sacramento County. The program addresses key social determinants of health; including social isolation, language barriers, and limited access to culturally appropriate services, through consistent, structured weekly engagement and preventive wellness activities. Seniors receive ongoing emotional support through regular participation and individualized check-ins that promote stability and connection. Serving over 100 individuals weekly, this program serves as the most needed program thus far.
Mind Matters Youth Program
The Mind Matters Youth Program addresses mental health challenges by promoting emotional well-being and providing culturally sensitive support to youth. It fosters a safe space for open dialogue about mental health issues, helping to reduce stigma within the community. The program has been integrated into Will C. Wood Middle School and Hiram W. Johnson High School, creating trusted spaces where students can access support, resources, and conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
This year, we have also incorporated poetry as a creative tool to help youth explore and express their emotions in a fun, engaging, and healthy way. Through writing and sharing, students are able to process their experiences and build confidence in expressing themselves.
A key component of the program is providing lunch. Because we work within a short school lunch period, offering meals ensures students are nourished, present, and able to fully engage. This is also one of the program’s largest costs, but it is essential to maximizing our time with youth and supporting their overall health.
By creating an inclusive and supportive environment, the program continues to strengthen the emotional resilience and well-being of youth in our community.