New members appointed to the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

Gov. Jay Inslee recently announced the following appointments to the Commission on Asian Pacific
American Affairs (CAPAA).

Gerardine “Didi” Cabusao is Filipino-American and resides in Selah, Washington. She is a registered dietitian at Yakima Valley School, Department of Social and Health Services. She is also a consulting dietitian for the Senior Nutrition Program in Yakima County. Cabusao was also actively involved with the Yakima Valley Dietetic Association and served as the association’s president in 2003.

Mid-session legislative update

Today is the 61st day of the 105-day regular legislative session. March 11 was the last day to consider bills in the house of origin, which means bills that have not passed either the House or Senate are unlikely to reach the Governor’s desk this session. However, bills that are critical for passing the state budget are exempt from the deadline. Of the more than 2,300 bills introduced this session, only 687 remain to be considered by legislators.

Mental Health Awareness in Communities of Color Month 2017

The Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) is encouraging efforts to promote mental health awareness in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Mental health is essential to overall well-being, yet research shows that APIs are less likely to seek help for mental health issues due to social stigma, linguistic and cultural disconnects, and lack of access to health care.