Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) was founded to help address domestic violence and sexual assault in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Theirmission is to build healthy and safe communities by addressing the root causes and the consequences of family violence and violence against women.

Their vision is of an Asian and Pacific Islander community that embraces healthy relationships and works in partnership with other communities to eradicate all forms of violence.

Center for the Pacific Asian Family’s (CPAF) story begins in 1978, when a Filipina American woman named Nilda Rimonte questioned whether an immigrant Asian or Pacific Islander (API) woman experiencing domestic or sexual violence could get help – any help. When she found no clear options available she pioneered the programs that they use today at CPAF.  The LA Times highlighted her work in 1981 and 1982 (click dates for links).

CPAF is a non-profit organization recognized nationally for its pioneering work in domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse services within the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. CPAF created the first multi-lingual 24-hour hotline assisting API survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the nation.

In 1981, CPAF opened the first multi-lingual and multi-cultural domestic violence emergency shelter in the nation that specialized in serving API survivors of domestic violence. Thereafter, CPAF was also the first to open a multi-lingual and multi-cultural transitional program focusing on the needs of survivors who seek to establish independent, violence-free lives.

In 2005, CPAF expanded its Community Program, focused on community engagement and violence prevention programs. CPAF provides a wide range of comprehensive services, all of which are free of charge, conducted in many API languages.