Tentative Conference Agenda
(*NOTE: Conference Logistics Currently Subject To Change; Please keep checking back for updates):
2014 African Nova Scotian Mental Health and Addictions Initiative Conference
Program Agenda
Thursday, November 27, 2014
5:00pm - 6:00pm Registration - Main Lobby – Holiday Inn, (101 Wyse Rd, Dartmouth) - Upstairs 2nd Floor
6:00pm – 6:15pm Welcome & Opening – Dr. David Haase, Conference Chair
6:15 pm - 7:45pm Public Lecture - Dr. Edwin Nichols
7:45pm - 9:00pm Network Mingler… Show more
Friday, November 28, 2014
8:00am – 8:30am Registration
Main Lobby – Holiday Inn, (101 Wyse Rd, Dartmouth) - Upstairs 2nd Floor
8:30am – 8:45 am Conference Opening & Remarks - Dr. David Haase, Conference Chair
Honourable Leo A. Glavine, Minister of Health & Wellness and Minister of Seniors
8:45am - 10:00am Morning Plenary – Dr. Kwame MacKenzie
Facilitator: Dr. David Haase, Conference Chair
10:00am - 10:15am BREAK
10:15am - 12:15pm Concurrent Morning WORKSHOPS
Workshop 1
Session 1 - Black Youth & Nova Scotia Mental Health - Dr. Jason Chatman, PhD, R, Psych Facilitator: Sonya Paris
Session 2 - Mental Health Concerns and Aging Populations: Messages and Lessons from Research with African Canadians - Dr. Wanda Thomas-Bernard Facilitator: Linda Lee Parris
12:15pm – 1:00pm LUNCH
1:00pm – 3:00pm Concurrent Afternoon WORKSHOPS
Workshop 2
Session 1 – Historical Links – Robert Wright, MSW, RSW Facilitator: Sheila Agoo
Session 2 – Isis & Adam Mental Health in Newcomer Populations - Carmen Celina & Robin Atwell Facilitator: Alecia Green
3:00pm – 3:15pm BREAK
3:15pm – 4:00pm Closing Panel: Best Practices Panelist: Dr. Nichols, Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. Chatman & Dr. Thomas-Bernard Facilitator: Robert Wright, MSW, RSW
Wrap-Up & Evaluations
Speakers
Dr. Edwin J. Nichols, Public Lecture Keynote and Closing Panel Presenter
Edwin J. Nichols, PhD, is the Director of Nichols and Associates,Inc., an applied behavioral science firm based in Washington, DC. The primary focus is to develop systemic congruence within the organizational structure through cultural competence in the leadership. For staff to work together productively, they must understand each other. Dr. Nichols has developed a unique pedagogy and paradigm entitled: The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Difference. The paradigm articulates the essence of ethnic difference from a philosophical perspective: axiology, epistemology and logic sets.
Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Morning Plenary Keynote and Closing Panel Presenter
Dr. Kwame McKenzie is an international expert on the social causes of mental illness, suicide and the development of effective, equitable health systems.
As a physician, psychiatrist, researcher and policy advisor, Dr. McKenzie has worked to identify the causes of mental illness and in cross-cultural health for over two decades. He is an active, funded researcher of social, community, clinical and policy issues and has nearly 200 academic publications including four books.
Dr. McKenzie has set up award winning services. He sees patients and trains clinicians and researchers as well as developing health policy for governments.
He has international experience in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and United States.
After completing his medical training at the University of Southampton, Dr. McKenzie undertook psychiatric training at the Maudlsey Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, Uk and Harvard University, US.
In addition to joining the Wellesley Institute as CEO in March, 2014, Dr. McKenzie is Medical Director responsible for Dual Diagnosis, Child Youth and Family and Geriatric services and Director Health Equity at Camh. He is a full Professor and the Co-Director of the Division of Equity Gender and Population in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Dr. McKenzie is President of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto, sits on the Board of the United Way Toronto and had a key role in the development of the Mental Health Strategy for Canada.
Dr. Jason Chatman is a registered psychologist currently working in Private Practice in Halifax. He received his PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA in Los Angeles, California before moving to Halifax in 2007 where he worked at the Iwk Health Centre for 6 years before making the move to private practice. He also teaches classes on cross cultural competency to psychology graduate students at Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University. In addition to clinical work and teaching, Dr. Chatman serves on various governmental working groups to promote cross cultural competency in clinicians and improve access to care for marginalized populations.
Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard is a well-known social worker, educator, researcher, community activist, advocate and volunteer. Born in East Preston, Nova Scotia, she was one of the first three young people from her community to attend university. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1975, a Masters of Social Work from the Maritime School of Social work at Dalhousie University in 1977, and her Ph.D. in 1996 from the University of Sheffield, Sheffield England. Wanda has worked in mental health at the Nova Scotia Hospital, in rural community practice with the Family Services Association, and since 1990, has been a professor at the Dalhousie School of Social Work, where she held the position of Director from 2001- 2011. She is highly regarded for addressing racial and cultural diversity in social work education and in the community. Her research with Black men and the violence of racism, particularly in the criminal justice system, has had significant impact on not only academic work but also agency and community-based practice.
Wanda has received much recognition over the years, including the Canada 125 medal for outstanding contributions to the country, the Order of Canada Award by Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson in June 2005, the Community Leadership Award from the Dartmouth Senior Citizen Centre, and the Community Mentoring Award from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Halifax. In 2012 she received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding volunteer contributions to the Country.
Robert Wright is a Social Worker and Sociologist with broad experience in direct practice, administration and education. Robert has spent most of his career working with families and children experiencing multiple problems. He has served in notable positions as Race Relations Coordinator of the former Dartmouth District School Board; a Correctional Mental Health Specialist at the Washington State Penitentiary; the Executive Director of Family & Children's Services of Cumberland County; and the Executive Director of Nova Scotia’s Child and Youth Strategy. In addition to these roles he has always maintained a small private practice. Since September of 2010, he has been a PhD student at Dalhousie University's Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology.
Carmen Celina Moncayo is a Community Wellness Coordinator with Immigrant Services and Integration Services (Isis). Carmen holds a Masters in Community Psychology and Human Rights Specialist. She immigrated to Canada 14 years ago and has worked for several years with the Colombian Ombudsman as a Women’s rights senior advisor. She has been with Isis for 11 years holding the positions of Family Violence Prevention Coordinator, Cultural Diversity Program Coordinator and Family Support Program Coordinator. Carmen has designed and delivered cross cultural workshops for more than seven years to service providers and community representatives. She has been involved in several research projects in Colombia and Canada around reproductive women rights, children sexual exploitation, gender and armed conflict, family violence and parenting in immigrant communities.
Rhonda Atwell is currently the Program Coordinator for the Mental Health Promotion Project at ADAM.
Rhonda has several years of experience working with non for profit organizations and communities within the Halifax Regional Municipality and in the Greater Toronto area. She has a passion for understanding the human condition with a special interest in transpersonal psychology and the effects of the mind - body- spirit connection and how this shapes our environment and our life experiences. Rhonda has a diverse educational background in Health Science’s and brings with her extensive skill sets and vast experience. She has worked/volunteered with organizations such as the Community Ymca, Federal Public Service, Cace (Council on African Canadian Education), Dalhousie University, Jessie’s –The June Callwood Centre for Young Women, East Preston Daycare Centre, Canadian Red Cross, Iwk Health Centre, The Halifax Regional Police, Chabac – Canadian Hiv/Aids Black, African & Caribbean Network and Nova Scotia - Health Promotion Clearing House. Rhonda resides in the community of East Preston and is the mother of three beautiful and active growing children and finds herself spending most of her “spare-time” in the dedicated roll of “soccer mom”.
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This first-of-its-kind-conference is occurring in proud collaborative partnership between the Health Association of African Canadians and Nova Scotia's Department of Health & Wellness .
The 2 day affair will give health professionals and service users that provide or receive mental health services an opportunity to gather to focus on the impact of health system delivery, navigation and response for persons of African descent living in Nova Scotia.
The event kicks of on Thursday evening, with a Free Networking Mingler Event that will present you with the opportunity to meet with leading local, regional, provincial, and international mental health providers and clinicians for diverse African, Caribbean, Black (Acb) populations. On Friday, the full conference will commence.
* Important : Information for Individuals/Organizations Making Hotel Reservations:
Please note that 20 rooms have been set aside for folks travelling from out of town, at a rate of $115 per night until Thursday, November 6th, 2014 at the Holiday Inn, Dartmouth, NS . Reservers should indicate that they are with "the Health Association of African Canadians conference," and the conference code Ha9 .
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