Mission

We engage, equip, and empower victims of human trafficking, refugees, and refugee youth to improve, become self-sufficient, and thrive. Our work is trauma-informed and linguistically sensitive, delivered by specialized staff who journey with each individual and family.

History

Almost 50 years ago in 1977, the Asian community in Salt Lake City answered a request from the Governor of Utah to assist in resettling Vietnamese refugees who remained at Camp Pendleton following the end of the Vietnam War. Since then, the Asian Association of Utah (AAU) has assisted tens of thousands of refugees, refugee youth, and human trafficking survivors from over 100 countries. Our Board of Directors is comprised of local Asian community and business leaders from Salt Lake City who are giving back to help other new arrivals to Utah thrive.

AAU has stood as Utah's cornerstone organization bridging cultures, transforming lives, and building pathways to self-sufficiency. Our three program pillars, Human Trafficking Support, Refugee Services, and Behavioral Health, stand together to serve a growing population of people. As Utah's largest human trafficking victim service provider and a vital force in refugee resettlement and support, our impact reaches across 24 of Utah's 29 counties through a network of 32 collaborative partners.