HEALTH ADVOCATES' Issues in Immigrant and Cross-Cultural Health is designed for health care professional and students who anticipate working in the US. with patients and clients whose country of origin, language, customs and values may differ from their own.

Offered annually in the Twin Cities, the course is co-sponsored by the Refugee Health Program of the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Center for Cross-Cultural Health.

The nine-week course is open to anyone, but it will be particularly useful to physicians, nurses and allied health professional, as well as to professionals in public health, mental health and social work.

Sessions on topics such as immigrant demographics in Minnesota, epidemiology of diseases and conditions that are more prevalent among immigrants and effective health communication are paired with descriptions of specific immigrant communities.

The next session of Issues in Immigrant and Cross-Cultural Health will be offered on Tuesdays from March 27-May 22, 2001 from 6:30 to 9 PM.