ACC’s Public Health Division focuses on implementing preventative methods to improve the quality of life through community education and research.

Primary Care

The ACC Primary Care Clinic provides healthcare services to the uninsured and medically under-served. Services include immunizations, general health assessments and screenings, preventative care, applications for medications, and referrals. The clinic partners with the City of Detroit and Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Lab to provide the community with low cost lab services.

In partnership with Karmanos Cancer Institute ACC provides pre-screenings for early detection of breast cancer. A young woman with a large lump in her breast neglected getting checked for breast cancer due to lack of insurance. After learning about ACC’s Primary Care Clinic she came in for a prescreening. With the help of our clinical staff she received referral services, a mammogram and treatment at Karmanos. With the assistance of ACC and the screenings she was diagnosed with breast cancer in its early stages. Today she is cancer free and continues to receive yearly mammograms.

Safe at Home Project

HAVEN, a place where people can go to be safe, get help and join programs to assist them in living their lives without violence, hurting, or abuse, and the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) are working together to provide help. The ACC will work directly with HAVEN should someone enter HAVEN's shelter or need an advocate.

Families are important, so is feeling safe at home. Love should not hurt and love should not scare you. We can help. You are not alone. To receive help call the 24-hour crisis and support line at (248) 334-1274 or TTY (248) 334-1290 for the deaf and hearing impaired.

Teen Health Project

The Teen Health Project helps children and adolescents reach their optimum potential of growing into healthy and responsible adolescents and young adults by improving their health status through health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Services include health education, health promotion, disease prevention, health and wellness maintenance, and referrals to existing city, county, hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers for urgent medical care. This program targets high risk and vulnerable youth residing in Wayne County. Funded by Detroit Wayne County Mental Health

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition

The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program assists in meeting the nutritional needs of expectant, breast feeding and postpartum women, infants, and children through age five. Program services include nutritional education and counseling, supplemental nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, infant formula for babies up to one-years-old, health screenings, lead poisoning education, lead testing, hemoglobin testing, and referrals for additional services.

In May 2007 ACC opened its third WIC program location in Hamtramck. “It’s wonderful and a very much needed program for the Hamtramck community,” said Dr. Anahid Kulwicki, Wayne County Deputy Director for Health and Human Services. “It’s wonderful that the organization (ACC) has made it their priority since Hamtramck has a diverse community. It’s needed especially now with this economically difficult period and for those who don’t know how to utilize or access the health care system. ACC’s WIC have staff that can break the linguistic barrier.” Funded by the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion and the Wayne County Department of Public Health

WIC Program Flyer
Facts About WIC / WIC Facts in Arabic
WIC Income Guidelines
What to bring to your WIC appointment

Health Tips from WIC:
10 Steps to a Healthy Weight
Tips to Walk the Weight Off
Importance of Calcium / Calcium in Arabic
Importance of Folic Acid / Folic Acid in Arabic

Research & Education Division

Hepatitis C (HCV) Program

Hepatitis C (HCV) Public Health Awareness and Education Program better-educates the community regarding HCV, its impact in the community, health promotion and prevention measures, and appropriate screenings for high-risk individuals. The program assists in providing the health care community with an indication of the potential prevalence of HCV among the targeted Arab/Chaldean population and increases the health quality and longevity of the targeted population by increasing the early detection and prevention measures. Funded by ROCHE Pharmaceuticals

Cancer Communication Campaign

Nearly 250 high risk and vulnerable individuals sought health care and routine cancer screenings for the first time as a result of ACC’s Cancer Health & Communications Campaign. The campaign provides adults with comprehensive cancer education, prevention and screening recommendations, one-on-one educational intervention, and its impact in the Arab/Chaldean population. Cancer forums provide useful and valuable information about cancer in easy to understand formats to the overall community. Campaign research, conducted through surveys, obtained demographic information, knowledge and intent of project participants around cancer education, screenings, and cancer forums and symposiums. These services ultimately help to reduce the health disparities gap in this ethnic/minority community. Funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Health Disparities Section

Substance Abuse Prevention

Oakland and Detroit Programs

ACC’s Oakland County and Detroit Substance Abuse Prevention Programs aid in reducing underage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use. The prevention programs provide four major services:

1. Education - evidence based prevention services implemented in area schools.
2. Information dissemination - substance abuse prevention materials are distributed at  area health fairs and events.
3. Community-based support - prevention staff attend coalition and community meetings  to promote awareness.
4. Environmental change - staff provide vendor education presentations to increase  knowledge of state laws related to under age tobacco sales.

Funded by the Oakland County Health Department and the City of Detroit

SEMCA Program

SEMCA Substance Abuse & Drug Prevention provides life skills training to community youth to assist them in developing a healthy lifestyle. Training topics cover improving self image, decision making skills, assertiveness, communication skills, conflict resolution, social skills, and alcohol and drug prevention. This program provides to empower individuals by addressing in an effective manner the challenges and transitions of life by creating and/or reinforcing conditions that promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. Funded by the Southeastern Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA)

Tobacco Cessation Project

The purpose of the Tobacco Prevention/Cessation Project is to increase awareness regarding tobacco issues, educate policy makers on the health disparities within our community, and promote policy initiatives that decrease tobacco consumption and exposure to second hand smoke.

On December 5, 2006 ACC’s Tobacco Prevention Project team held a conference on the Arghileh (Hookah) titled “Smoking the Hookah: The New Trend in Tobacco.” The conference, which was the first of its kind in the state of Michigan, focused on the health consequences, laws, history of the hookah, cultural aspects and other related issues.
Funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health

Additional Resources:
Tobacco Free Michigan

Michigan Department of Community Health: Tobacco Control Program

PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS