A presentation on the systemic strategy to address research done to identify and address Anti-Black Racism in the Infant, Child, Youth and Mental Health (ICYMH) Sector. How the system must change to support the theme of Be You Be Well. In February of 2023, there was a symposium to discuss the work done by the Turner Consulting Group to engage a call to action for agencies in Toronto’s ICYMH sector to:

• Engage with African Canadian parents/caregivers and communities to ensure that they are aware of the infant, child, and youth mental health services available to them
• Educate Toronto’s Black communities about mental wellness in order to normalize conversations, increase understanding, and reduce stigma about mental health
• Build confidence, competence, and courage of sector staff and leaders to provide culturally responsive services and to speak about and address anti-Black racism
• Improve access to culturally appropriate and responsive programs and services where and when people need them
• Reflect the Black community at the front lines of the organization, in leadership positions, and on the board of directors
• Support the well-being, success, and advancement of Black staff
• Collaborate with other agencies to share best practices and engage in learning
• Advocate for change within this and other sectors to dismantle anti-Black racism.

Link to reports online: Reports - H.O.P.E. (hope-strategy.com)

Organizer(s)

Organizer – Arrangements were made by Debra Williams Speaker – Tana Turner, of the Turner Consulting Group Email: tana.turner@outlook.com

Bio of speaker

Tana is the founder and principal consultant of Turner Consulting Group. She is a researcher, consultant, and advocate for social justice and systems change. In the early 1990s, Tana worked within the provincial government to develop employment equity legislation, and to implement employment equity within the Ontario Public Service. She formed her consulting firm in 2002, and during that time has worked with hundreds of organizations in the non-profit and public sectors to understand and respond to the increased diversity of their workforce and service users. Tana has led a number of seminal projects to help organizations and sectors understand and dismantle anti-Black racism, including projects with various school boards and the child welfare sector.

Location (virtual)