Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project

Brief Description

The Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project is the fruit of a unique partnership between Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services and Wanasah Mental Health Service for Black Youth, both based in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto and is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS). The project tests and evaluates an embedded, community-based model of mental health and addictions care for Black youth with mental health and addictions concerns who are gang-involved, have experienced or are at-risk of experiencing gun and gang violence and/or human trafficking and/or conflict with the law, and their families.

Goals

The main goals of the Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project are to:

• Implement, test and evaluate a model of mental health, addictions and crisis-support services for Black youth and their families living in Toronto’s Regent Park Neighbourhood, that is embedded in Dixon Hall’s community-based youth centre;
• Improve early identification of Black youth with mental health and addictions concerns connected to Dixon Hall; and
• Provide crisis and mental health/addictions counselling support for these youth and their families- recognizing the pivotal role families play in supporting youth and the intergenerational impacts of trauma.

Clientele

The Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project provides services to black youth (12-24 yrs-old) and their families living in Toronto’s downtown Regent Park neighbourhood who require mental health, addictions and crisis-support services. There are no specific restrictions on referral source; however, the young person/family must reside in Toronto’s Regent Park Neighbourhood

Core Components

Core components of the Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project include:

1. Development of individualized treatment plans: Individual and group counselling/crisis support services to address mental health and addictions care for Black youth through a case management model and development of treatment plans;
2. Focus on risk and strength-based factors: The project mitigates and decreases risk factors, and also makes it possible for youth to build strengths, skills and resiliency by having the mental wellness to engage in their communities, and benefit from mentorship, pro-social activities and attain their educational, professional and personal goals;
3. Working towards functionality: Psychotherapists work with youth experiencing significant mental health symptom burdens that impacts their functioning;
4. Trauma-informed services: Recognizing mental health concerns of Black youth are frequently rooted in trauma, all programming and services are trauma-informed and strengths-based;
5. Diverse evidence-based modalities: The program uses a of a variety of evidence-based modalities such as dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and psychodynamic therapy to reach its goals; and
6. Meeting clients ‘where they are at’: All services and programs are adapted to the cultural and other needs of the individual client and groups served.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: The organization should ensure that the program aligns with one or more of the following principles:
  • Best practices recognized as effective for supporting youth at risk of violence and victimization;
  • Culturally appropriate to youth and communities served;
  • Client-centred and youth engaged (i.e., youth are at the center of all aspects of the program and uses strategies to involve and empower youth to address, plan and make decisions about issues that effect them);
  • Strengths-based and trauma-informed (i.e., recognizes, supports and builds on the strengths, skills and protective factors of youth, reflects an understanding of trauma and the impact of traumatic experiences); and
  • Family and community based (i.e., includes and integrates family and/or community support in addressing the needs of the youth and fostering strengths, facilitates and/or leverages community partnerships and/or service coordination to provide effective services to youth).
• Partnerships: The success of the Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project depends on its partnership with Wanasah Mental Health Service for Black Youth.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The Dixon Hall-Wanasah Mental Health Services for Black Youth Pilot Project is fully supported by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), and is implemented at Dixon Hall and throughout the Regent Park community in Toronto. The pilot project is funded until March 31, 2024.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Dixon Hall

58 Sumach Street

Toronto, ON M5A3J7

Mina Mawani, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (416) 863-0499 ext. 2028

Email: mina.mawani@dixonhall.org

Website: https://dixonhall.org