COMMUNITY CARE PRACTITIONERS TRAINING PROGRAM

Applications will close at on Sunday January 21st 2024.

The Program

The Community Care Practitioners Training program is a collaborative effort between the Black Healing Centre, Dr. Lisa Ndejuru, and the Shift Centre for Social Transformation at Concordia University. This program adopts a decolonial, anti-racist, and community-engaged approach to address issues of anti-Black racism, racial trauma, and community mental health. It builds upon Dr. Ndejuru's doctoral work and the Black Healing Centre’s Black collective care circles. The training focuses on finding the root causes of clients’ issues rather than just treating symptoms, emphasizing a holistic and preventative approach to mental health.

    • 12-week training sessions: Thursday, February 15th, 2024, to Thursday, May May 16th, 2024.

    • 12-week internship sessions: Thursday May 30th, 2024 to Thursday August 22nd, 2024

  • While the program will be conducted primarily in English, it is noteworthy that the facilitator is bilingual. We encourage students to freely express themselves in the language in which they feel most comfortable. This commitment to linguistic inclusivity ensures that participants can fully engage and articulate their thoughts in the manner that best resonates with them.

  • The pilot program is offered at no charge. Participants will not incur any fees associated with their involvement in this initiative.

    • Train Black healers in decolonial, anti-racist, and afro-positive approaches to holding space for people experiencing mental health challenges.

    • Build a network of afro-identified community care practitioners

    • Acknowledge and validate the lived experiences of black people

    • Build a care approach in community, for community

    • Reduce wait times for care

    • Deliver consistent results as a Community Care Practitioner.

    • Develop a broad set of coaching skills.

    • Equip participants with the knowledge and tools to provide comprehensive care for individuals.

    • Evaluate a client's risk of harm to self or others; 

    • Refer clients as needed to the professionals who can provide the correct support; 

    • Hold safe space with a client; 

    • Guide clients in goal setting process

Training Team

Dr.Lisa Ndejuru | Lead Designer and Facilitator

Catherine Clement | Education Technology Graduate student Intern.

This training program will be led by Dr. Lisa Ndejuru, accompanied by esteemed guest speakers, who will bring a wealth of expertise and experience to ensure a comprehensive and enriching learning environment for participants. Dr. Lisa Ndejuru is a psychotherapist, psychodramatist and theater practitioner. Her practice is about creating accessible, non-medicalized, scalable strategies for healing and change in our communities, impacted by the violence of anti-blackness in all its forms. Violence flattens our lives and creates silences. Lisa works to open pathways to wellness, emancipation, and finding one’s voice in a post-colonial context of everyday oppression, systemic racism, and large-scale political violence. Founder of Omora healing initiative, Dr. Lisa Ndejuru was awarded funding by Canada’s Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council for a 3 year community mental health initiative entitled ‘Centering Community Knowledges: Fostering Black Wellness In Montreal (CCK). In 2023 she received the AMI Québec (Action on Mental Illness) Ella Amir Award for Innovations in Mental Health, and was recognized by CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) as a Black Changemaker.

After 20 years working in corporate learning and development for an international hotel group, Catherine started a Masters in Educational Technology at Concordia University. Her return to studies was pivotal in her decision to specialize in equity, diversity and inclusion within the field of learning and development. She's now doing that work on a full-time basis at CBC/Radio-Canada.

FAQs

  • We welcome applications from individuals with a sincere interest in acquiring the skills to provide compassionate support for those dealing with mental health challenges. The program is particularly suited for:

    • Aspiring Black Psychology students

    • Students and practitioners in the fields of human relations and psycho-social support

    • Movement teachers seeking to expand their skill set

    • Holistic wellness practitioners committed to enhancing their practice

  • Applicants are expected to possess proficient active listening skills. This foundational skill will play a crucial role in the training program, ensuring participants can effectively engage with and support individuals experiencing mental health issues.

    • New knowledge about issues faced by Black communities

    • Tools to assist clients and participants

    • Practice new coaching skills within a supportive cohort

    • Honorarium for participation

Things to note…

  • Kindly be aware that this training program operates as a pilot initiative, and consequently, there are a restricted number of available spots. Only those successfully accepted will receive further communication.

  • Admitted participants to the program will be provided with a $2500 honorarium as a token of appreciation for their dedication and contributions.

  • Mandatory attendance is expected at the weekly evening training sessions held on Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm. This commitment ensures the comprehensive engagement necessary for the program's success.

  • All participants are required to commit to the entire program duration and extend their commitment to a minimum of six months of service. This extended involvement is crucial for the program's effectiveness and the positive impact it aims to achieve within the community.

1

Application Period

Applications will be accepted from December 22nd, 2023, to January 21st, 2024.

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2

Interview Phase

From January 22nd to January 29th, 2024, selected candidates will be invited for interviews.

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3

Notification of Acceptance

On February 5th, 2024, successful applicants for the program will be formally informed of their acceptance.

Interested in joining?

This comprehensive training program aims to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact in the mental health of Montreal's Black communities, utilizing a culturally sensitive and holistic approach.
Applications will close on Sunday January 21st 2024.

This Program is made possible by the Deep Investment fund from the Shift Centre For Social Transformation at Concordia.