DNC Speaker Series: Advances in Prevention Science, Diversity, and Inclusion

Wednesday, July 23, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
“Culturally Adapting Parent Training Interventions for Mental Health: The Importance of Integrating Prevention Science, Culture, and Social Justice”

How can prevention science better serve diverse families and communities? Join Dr. Rubén Parra-Cardona as he explores culturally adapted parenting interventions for Hispanic families and shares insights on integrating prevention science, culture, and social justice to advance mental health and well-being.

Speaker: Rubén Parra-Cardona, PhD, MA

Dr. Rubén Parra-Cardona is the Roger and Carol Nooe Endowed Chair and Professor in the College of Social Work at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a prevention scientist with expertise in tailoring evidence-based parenting interventions to ensure contextual and cultural relevance.

Dr. Parra-Cardona was funded by NIMH to investigate the treatment efficacy and relevance of two versions of an evidence-based parenting intervention culturally adapted for Hispanic families with young children. He has also completed two prevention trials with funding provided by NIDA to extend this line of research to Hispanic families with adolescent children.

He served as vice-president of the Family Process Institute, was an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Prevention Research, and currently serves on the editorial boards of the journal Family Process and the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

He has extensive experience in research collaborations across the U.S.-Mexico border. His global prevention work has led to the establishment of long-term research collaborations with partners in Mexico, Chile, and the United Kingdom.