Haitian Mental Health Network
Overview, Activities, and Services
Haitian Mental Health Network
The Haitian Mental Health (HMH) Network is comprised of Haitian mental health providers, social services and health care organizations, and allies of the Haitian community. It is dedicated to promoting greater awareness and understanding of mental illness and mental wellness in the Haitian community; facilitating community conversations on mental health; celebrating culturally and spiritually-based practices that foster community well-being; and creating supportive and inclusive learning environments to build a culturally and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce.
Areas of Focus
The HMH Network offers behavioral health and wellness workshops; provides trainings, consultation services, and referrals for direct clinical support that is culturally and linguistically affirming; and actively engages in behavioral health workforce development initiatives.
The HMH Network works in collaboration with community-based partners to offer the following services:
Host linguistically and culturally focused mental health literacy workshops for individuals, families, and caregivers. Evidence-informed workshops addressing topics that focus on promoting the emotional and psychosocial well-being of displaced individuals and families while adjusting to life in the U.S., managing fears, worries, and unpredictable transitions, and navigating systemic challenges.
The workshops last about 2.5/3 hours and are held in-person at community-based organizations, faith communities, and shelters. The primary aim of the trauma-informed workshops is to recognize the signs and symptoms of distress and offering strategies for culturally appropriate response.
Programming to build capacity among culturally and linguistically diverse providers
Opportunities for individuals who are interested in serving immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Facilitate linkages to local agencies and licensed, multi-disciplinary, providers who can provide direct clinical behavioral health services that are culturally and linguistically specific. Licensed clinical providers have capacity to work with immigrant individuals and families across the life span. Providers have immediate openings, no wait lists for services.
Language capacity – English, Haitian Creole, French, Portuguese, and Spanish
Consultation and Training services provided to agencies, municipalities, and organizations, to enhance their awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with Haitian/immigrant individuals and families; assist in developing a deeper understanding of the belief systems and practices as well as cultural and psychological factors that affect the well-being of immigrants; and help gain a greater appreciation for the language, customs, traditions, and help-seeking behaviors among immigrants.
Sample Trainings – Please note that trainings are designed and developed based on the needs of the entity seeking service. This is not an exhaustive list of topics:
- Increasing providers’ competency in relationship building
- Understanding the psychosocial impacts of migration and trauma on the mental health of migrants
- Skills to implement culturally responsive interventions to promote the psychosocial adaptation of individuals and families
- Compassion fatigue and burn-out prevention for helpers
- Collaboration and partnership building with the Haitian community
Additionally, the HMH Network hosts a bi-annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health and Wellness, community conversations, webinars, and networking and professional development events. It also serves as resource hub with a centralized directory listing of local, national, and international agencies that serve the Haitian community.
Grant-Funded and Community-Based Initiatives
Below is a list of grant-funded programs that the HMH Network has led or is currently implementing:
Behavioral Health and Wellbeing Taskforce
A statewide initiative focusing on wellness of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
- Advocacy - MIRA Coalition (May - December 2025)
- Landscape analysis leading to legislative briefing
- Regional focus groups with stakeholders
- Storytelling of those with lived experience to share experiences and narratives
- Funding/Reimbursement
- Apply for funding as a collaborative
- Advocacy around insurance reimbursement
- Centralized Waitlist
- Resources and services that are culturally and linguistically affirming across Massachusetts and beyond, and are inclusive of diverse communities
- Community Advisory Council
- Supports the work of the Taskforce by providing guidance, governance, and leadership
Boston Public Health Commission/BAHEC Program
Boston Public Health Commission – CHEE Fund
January 2024–December 2025
Host wellness workshops focused on the wellbeing of Dorchester neighborhood residents, Community Forums and Resource Fairs, and a Directory of resources for Dorchester residents.
Boston Area Health Education Center – BAHEC
Summer 2024–present
Offer Career ladder and academic pathway programs in the behavioral and public health fields for historically underserved middle and high school students.
Coordinate internship opportunities in collaboration with community-based organizations.
Dedham Public Schools
October 2024 – Present
Host multilingual and multicultural parent workshops for families navigating the school system, and connect them with community-based resources.
Develop a behavioral health clinic in the school system to include telehealth, wellness activities, and clinical support for students and families.
Morehouse School of Medicine’s Haitian American Young Adult Community Health Workers Training Program
July 2024–May 2025
Delivered evidence-based didactic training, supported community health monitoring, and engaged young adults in community projects focused on the wellbeing of the Haitian community.
Boston Children’s Foundation
February 2024–June 2025
Hosted multilingual wellness workshops at emergency shelter sites and community-based organizations for displaced individuals and families.
Focused on mental health literacy, social and community integrations, and specialty topics such as navigating complex systems, connecting with community resources, family dynamics and relationships, and workforce development.
Events and Community Engagement
- Service Learning/Immersion opportunities
- Stronger Together: Fostering the Well-Being of Haitian Mothers and Children Through Partnerships (2024)
- 2019 Haiti Service Learning and Cultural Immersion Program
- Haiti Service Learning Program—Summer 2016
- Hope links Haiti, Boston 5 years after quake
- 4th Annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health and Art Exhibition (2015)
- Resilience is Theme of Haitian Art Exhibit April 25–May 24, 2014
- 2014 Conference on Haitian Mental Health
- 2nd Annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health (2013)
- August 2012 Visit to Haiti