Meeting Black youth where they are

When a child is in crisis, a mental health professional who understands their culture and shares their lived experience can make all the difference.

This philosophy is at the heart of the Kuumba program, a mental health and wellness initiative run by the York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families that serves African, Caribbean and Black communities in York Region, north of Toronto. Through individual therapy and group sessions, Black children and youth receive care rooted in Afrocentric principles that emphasize connection, collectivism and community validation.

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Late last year, the program expanded by embedding Shannon Voce, a Black crisis worker specializing in supporting Black children and youth, in the emergency department at Southlake Health. It’s believed to be the first initiative of its kind in the region.

“My son was in crisis and was admitted to Southlake Health,” a caregiver who requested anonymity shared in a written statement. “My family was relieved to know that Southlake had support for Black youth in the community. Shannon’s approach helped my son in many ways, but notably seeing someone from his community shaped how open he was to getting help.”

Black youth across Canada continue to face significant challenges when accessing mental health support.

A 2020 research snapshot published by the Evidence Exchange Network at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health identified racism, discrimination and limited access to culturally competent care and Black mental health practitioners as key obstacles.

“Moving from a diverse area to Newmarket, I was worried care responders would not understand community and cultural differences. But the additional support from York Hills and other culturally responsive organizations made us feel as if there is an entire community around us to help us through this difficult time,” the caregiver added.

Kuumba, meaning creativity in Swahili, was created to address similar concerns shared by other families.

“There is still some stigma around mental health within African, Caribbean and Black communities,” said Teresa Knibb, the program’s clinical manager, during a video call. “And there is a lot of harm that has happened. It takes time to build trust.”

Since York Hills received additional funding in April of last year, the program, which also offers rapid access, single-session drop-in appointments with a Black-identifying therapist, has expanded its catchment area into South Simcoe and increased the age range served from birth to 18 to birth to 25.

The partnership with Southlake not only placed a dedicated crisis worker in the hospital providing culturally safe care to Black youth, but also enabled the worker to collaborate with schools, community agencies and Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving organizations to provide seamless access to care with wraparound support.

“I am very thankful Shannon was there to walk us through everything and advocate for my son,” expressed the caregiver. “He is doing better and using the tools that he was provided via the services Shannon put in place.”

Moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care, the Kuumba program prioritizes services that reflect the culture and respect the identity of the people it supports. For many Black families, that’s why culturally-affirming care matters.

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Jumol Royes is a communications specialist and writer who lives in Vaughan, Ontario, and covers social justice issues impacting marginalized communities.