The Institute for African American Mobilization (IAAM)
works to build sensitivity around alcohol, tobacco and
other drugs use within the African-American communities
of Philadelphia and trains professionals in cultural
sensitivity.
The Philadelphia Prevention Partnership's IAAM grew
out of a meeting convened in 1994, held by the
Partnership for African-American community. The
program originated from the Center for Substance Abuse
Prevention which has developed culturally-sensitive
models of approach to prevent and decrease substance abuse for various communities (Latino, Native American
included).
In taking on this model, the Partnership tested several
groups in the Philadelphia African-American community
to assess how it could be used most effectively as a
prevention tool in our community. As a result, lAAM's
primary target audience is African-Americans who work
in prevention and treatment programs, and as social
Workers. The trainings are state certified for addiction Counselors and prevention specialist, (non African
American counselors and specialist who work within the
African American milieu are also allowed to attend). IAAM's secondary target is African-American youth.
The African-American community has given up its control and power to the government and government supported organizations. We must build on our cultural and historical identity, unify for power and organize for collective work.
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