Mission

To improve mental health services and outcomes in northern New Jersey by enhancing the cultural competence of mental health professionals and their organizations.

Why we do what we do?

While cultural competence is critical to an effective mental health system, agencies often struggle to find the time and resources to improve organizational cultural competence.
Research shows that cultural competence improves/increases/enhances mental health providers’ capacity to:

  • Respond to current and projected demographic changes
  • Foster social justice
  • Eliminate disparities in the mental health status of people of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural groups
  • Improve the quality of their services and outcomes

While cultural competence is critical to an effective mental health system, agencies often struggle to find the time and resources to improve organizational cultural competence. Therefore, The NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services has funded Culture Connections and encouraged licensed agencies to engage in creating plans that utilize the CLAS standards to grow in their cultural competence journey.

Culture Connections emphasizes viewing cultural competence not as an add-on, but as a vital, core component of any mental health organization’s mission.

Staff

Carline Azor, MPA
Program Manager
Andreea DiLorenzo
Diversity and Inclusion Coach
Jayme S. Ganey
Senior Program Manager
Christine F. Hanna
Diversity and Inclusion Coach
Tamika Marshall
Learning Environment Operations Administrator
Konniesha M. Moulton
Chief Operating Officer

Connect with us for more information about training, technical assistance, and resources:

  • Email the Culture Connections team at [email protected]
  • Contact the Family Connections’ Administrative Office: 7 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 101, East Orange, NJ 07017, 973-323-3454