1	THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR HAITIANS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS CCHER Center for Community Health, Education & Research, Inc. 420 Washington Street * Dorchester MA 02124 www.ccher.org 617-265-0628
2	PROFILE AND MAKE UP OF THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM The delivery model will be fully integrated into the existing Psychiatrist Psychologist Mental Health Counselors Case manager Eustache Jean-Louis, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Director Joel Piton, M.D., M.Ed., Mental Health Counselor M. Berthonia Antoine,M.S., Mental Health Counselor Gemima St. Louis, P.H.D., Clinical Director Ernst Manigat, M.D.Ps., Psychiatrist George Huba, Consultant Arthur Friedman, Consultant
3	AGENCY BACKGROUND The Center for Community Health, Education & Research (CCHER) is a non-profit community-based organization and was established in 1987 during the height of the AIDS Epidemic within the Haitian community. The organization was created to respond to the growing needs of Haitians in Boston living with HIV/AIDS, and over the years has grown into a critical resource not only for Haitians living with HIV, but for the general Haitian community, and other ethnic and immigrant communities as well.
4	AGENCY BACKGROUND (CONT.) Besides our new CMHS-funded mental health services, CCHER currently provides a range of other services: Client-Centered Community & Hospital-Based Case Management HIV Counseling Peer support Housing Search & Placement Home Delivered Meals Health Education & Promotion Effective Parenting Group Training HIV Capacity Building & Technical Assistance other public health related services
5	CCHER'S PRESENT AND PAST FUNDING SOURCES "All Walks of Life" of the Boston AIDS Action Committee Boston Foundation Boston Public Health Commission AIDS Program Boston Healthy Start Initiative Boston Neighborhood Development Boston Pediatric AIDS Program Center For Disease Control Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA Office of Minority Health Hyams Foundation Massachusetts Department of Public Health SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Service
6	JUSTIFICATION FOR THE HAITIAN HIV MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE MODEL Boston’s Haitian community continues to be one of the fastest growing ethnic populations within the city. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health estimates that there are 45,000 Haitians living in the city of Boston. Estimated 770 who are living with AIDS in Massachusetts: 36% are women A large portion of the population are new arrivals to the United States, and as newcomers often face seemingly insurmountable barriers in the following areas: Language Immigration Status Cultural Adaptation Socioeconomic Survival Literacy Discrimination
7	GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Our overarching goal is to increase the agency’s capacity to provide mental health services to Haitians living with HIV and their affected families through an integrated case management model. Five specific objectives have been identified: Develop a framework to deliver, one-on-one psychotherapy/counseling sessions that are culturally appropriate for Haitians with HIV. Conduct Group level discussion, activities or training with clients to reinforce individualized counseling and psychotherapy sessions. Integrate mental health services into existing HIV care services in the agency. Create an advisory committee with different stakeholders (including consumers) to provide advice to the mental health team. Provide to staff ongoing cross- cultural training in the latest issues or concerns related to HIV/AIDS, mental health and the Haitians community
8	TARGET POPULATION The mental health program target Haitians and Haitian-Americans. The degree of acculturation, immigration and social economic status may play a role in terms of health- seeking behavior patterns. CRITERIA Haitian/Haitian- American HIV/AIDS diagnosis DSM-IV diagnosis
9	INTERGRATED AGENCY SERVICES Incorporate Mental Health Care, Case Management, Medical Care and Community-Based Outreach Efforts Consultation and Peer Supervision Radio Programs to Promote Mental Health Issues
10	The Culturally-Competent and Linguistically-Appropriate Mental Health Service Delivery Model for Haitians Living with HIV/AIDS
11	ACCOMPLISHMENTS During the first nine months of the program, these are the things that we have accomplished through this program. February 2002 Created Advisory board with subcommittees Conducted meeting with Advisory board members April 2002 Developed mental health Records Designed Treatment and Assessment Tools Created Policy manual Developed The HIV/AIDS Mental heal formula Designed Data Collection measures May 2002 Developed a By laws of the Advisory board committee June 2002 Client Recruitment- June 2002
12	APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY CCHER treatment setting is unique and flexible. We will provide mental health services to our clients in the following settings: Clinic Home Hospital Shelter
13	FUTURE DIRECTIONS To reduce mental health stigmas in the Haitian community. To help provide quality and appropriate mental health services to the Haitian community To acquire Licensure of the clinic
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