The MVMA Community Health Program
MVMA’s Senior Wellness Center provides weekly group activities to increase social connections for seniors and reduce isolation, feelings of loneliness, and the risk of depression. Senior group activities include bingo, health education, dancing, karaoke, computer classes, smartphone classes, low-impact exercise sessions, and short walks. Field trips and picnics provide connections to cultural events and nature. The intended outcome is for seniors to have more confidence in managing their well-being and physical and mental health.
This program and its activities are funded by the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), a part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
Senior Transportation Program
MVMA has established a transportation program available to all seniors. Our drivers are bilingual (Vietnamese and English) and seniors can be taken to medical appointments, shopping, the gym, and to visit family and friends. Those who present Medicaid or SNAP cards pay $1; others pay $5.
Call (240) 200-0848!
Direct Services
From its inception, MVMA has assisted with application assistance to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs; with the translation of documents such as bills, rental agreements, and mortgages; and with the provision of information regarding citizenship and other immigration issues. This flagship program continues with great vigor today, providing critical services to an underserved community. For assistance, please call (301) 588-6862.
Vietnamese Parenting Enrichment Project (VPEP)
This program supports parents in becoming more involved in their children’s education and their social and cognitive development. It also helps parents meet basic needs such as healthcare, food, and shelter. Families benefit from home visits, family mentorship, and parenting workshops. Tutoring Empowerment And Mentoring (TEAM) under VPEP helps Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Golden Age Project for Seniors (GAPS)
Golden Age Project for Seniors (GAPS) helps seniors lead independent and healthy lives. MVMA assistance includes interpretation, translation, enrollment in senior benefit programs, and the opportunity to engage in friendly visits. GAPS works with the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the Montgomery County Department of Aging and Disability. We have partnerships with Senior Connection and the Vietnamese Senior Association of Maryland to leverage resources and share information and services.
MVMA will:
- Act as liaison between LEP Vietnamese Seniors and social service agencies such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security
- Provide interpretation and translation services
- Screen seniors for eligibility and provide assistance with public benefit applications
- Educate seniors about benefits incorporated in social service programs such as disease prevention
- Provide outreach to seniors’ meetings to bring assistance and valuable resources to seniors
- Organize friendly visits to isolated seniors
New Americans Advocacy Services (NAAS)
NAAS is our longest-running program and it began in 1979 with the establishment of MVMA. We have helped over 25,000 refugees and immigrants of all backgrounds secure housing, apply for government-sponsored health and supplemental income benefits, and apply for U.S. citizenship. On February 2, 2009, MVMA became the first and only Vietnamese American organization in the U.S. to be recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and authorized to provide legal immigration assistance and representation.
Through NAAS, MVMA helps with permanent residency and citizenship applications, family reunions, document translation and notarization, and providing references to other agencies.