Welcome to: Connecting Across Cultures


		WELCOME Connecting Across Cultures (CAC) is a project dedicated to understanding the needs and strengths of underserved immigrant and refugee families and children as they adjust to life in the United States, and to exploring the effects of acculturation on substance use and related health and safety issues. It is concerned with increased health risk behaviors such as alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking and illicit drug use among acculturated immigrants. The project originated from a Developing Leadership to Reduce Substance Abuse fellowship sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and has been enriched by work of Health and Human Development Programs based at Education Development Center, Inc. Connecting Across Cultures is dedicated to doing the following:
				Examines the impact of acculturation on AOD use, and access to AOD and related health and human services

				Explores strategies to reduce the negative health outcomes associated with the acculturative change process.

				Conducts research on immigrants, acculturation, parenting, AOD use and related health behaviors.

				Develops products and informational materials that offer practical guidance about service delivery to immigrants and other racial/ethnic minority populations.

				Provides funding resources, professional associations and other national organizations that focus on issues of culture, cultural diversity, and health.