Social divisions, including those related to gender, race, religion, and poverty, are central to the challenge of providing culturally sensitive clinical care.  They are interwoven with the community impact of depression, addiction, suicide and violence.  Healthcare providers and community leaders advocating for community wellbeing require innovative programs to address the impact of social divisions on community solidarity and community-based service initiatives.

This conference will offer new skills and strategies for addressing the impact of social divisions on attendees’ work in clinical and community settings.  Keynoters will emphasize the role of historically-driven economic factors on the growing rates of behavioral disorders and the value of innovative approaches to integrating global and local resources in supporting sustainable growth and transformation of vulnerable communities.  Panelists will present strategies and programs developed to improve intergroup communication, community decision making, advocacy and access to sustainable resources.  In small group discussions, attendees will be introduced to skills and strategies for improving clinical care and community-based leadership sensitive to the impact of social divisions.  Panel discussions and plenary lectures will provide extensive opportunity for discussion.