The Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora (AHADI) is now accepting abstracts for the United States Conference on African Immigrant Health (USCAIH) in Atlanta, Georgia, April 7-11, 2010. While AHADI strives to achieve optimal health and wellness among the African Diaspora, the conference will focus on diverse and emerging public health issues within the United States African immigrant population. 
USCAIH will provide participants with the opportunity to:

• Describe current trends in African immigrant health, including disparities in health status and use of health care
• Identify disparities in data collection and research in African immigrant health and subsequently formulate a research agenda
• Identify best and promising practices in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services to support African immigrant health
• Network with professionals, researchers, and community leaders from across the nation with an interest in African immigrant health

All abstract submissions must be limited to 2,000 characters and completed online using the form below. Learning objectives must be included in the abstract submission; however they will not be included in the abstract text word count.
Authors will be notified via e-mail by January 15, 2010 of their abstract status.
Abstracts can be submitted to any of the following tracks. However, you may not submit the same abstract to more than one track.

• HIV/AIDS: This track will feature research related to the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in the United States African immigrant population; identify existing gaps in the scientific literature related to HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in African Immigrants and develop an agenda for research; and highlight culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in African immigrants.

• Data Collection and Research: This track will provide a forum for professionals, researchers and community leaders from across the nation to identify the existing gaps in the scientific literature related to the health status of African immigrants and their use of health care in the United States and subsequently formulate a research agenda. This track will also provide an opportunity to address mentoring and development of future and early/mid- career researchers in the field.

• Best Practices: This track will focus on translating research into practice, specifically; we will explore best and promising practices in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services to support African immigrant health, including mental health and youth.

• Faith and Health: This track seeks abstracts on the influence of faith on health practices and the role of faith leaders in health education, prevention, and care.

• Culture and Health: This track seeks abstracts that examine the interplay of African culture and health issues (health education, treatment, access, care) in the United States. Proposals may deal with issues such as cultural misunderstandings between client and provider; customs/traditions and health; stigma and health; culturally responsive interventions.

• Health Disparities: This track seeks abstracts that explore the issue of health disparities among minorities, especially the African immigrant population. Proposals may focus on specific issues or diseases.

• Advocacy/Media: This track seeks abstracts that discuss the role of advocacy and media in influencing health policies affecting the Africans in the Diaspora.

• Wellness: This track seeks abstracts that will empower the community to address issues relating but not limited to Mental Health, Mind and Body of the African.

• Health Education/Outreach: This track seeks abstracts on health education, community networking and outreach. Abstracts may highlight outreach challenges or outreach programs that work.

• Youth and Health: This track seeks abstracts that will address the state of the youth in the African Diaspora. Abstracts should seek to empower the youths to become healthy citizens.

Abstract Format

Please limit abstracts to 2,000 characters of your presentation.
Suggested abstract formats are listed below:

1. Research and Studies:
Title of Abstract:
Learning Objectives:
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Description: Please include the background, methods, results, conclusions, public health implications and evidence based or promising practices.

2. Programs, projects, or initiatives:
Title of Abstract:
Learning Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
Purpose, Method, Results, and Conclusion.
 
3. All other presentations:
Title of Abstract:
Learning Objectives:
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2.
3.
Models/Examples and Conclusions/Lessons Learned

Abstract Review:
Abstracts will be reviewed by the Abstracts Committee of the USCAIH 2010 and authors will be notified in writing (email or mail) if accepted. Committee decisions are final.