York Hills Centre for Children, Youth, and Families and Southlake Health are pleased to announce a new partnership aimed at strengthening mental health outcomes for Black communities across York Region and Southern Simcoe County. The collaboration will expand the Kuumba program, adding a new crisis worker to support Black-identifying children, youth, and families and deliver culturally responsive services.
Launched in 2020 by York Hills, the Kuumba program is a culturally grounded therapeutic service designed specifically to support Black-identifying children, youth, and families. Kuumba, a Swahili word meaning “creativity,” reflects the power of imagination, resilience, and cultural expression in fostering healing and well-being. Rooted in Afrocentric principles and guided by anti-oppressive and anti-Black racism–informed practices, the Kuumba program provides mental health services that affirm identity, build coping strategies, strengthen cultural pride, and foster resilience.
York Hills and Southlake’s partnership expands the Kuumba Program to include dedicated mental health crisis support through a new crisis worker at Southlake Health. The crisis worker – a trained mental health professional from the Black community who specializes in care for Black-identifying children and youth – enhances access to culturally safe, trauma-informed crisis care, both within the hospital and in collaboration with community service partners.
Black-identifying youth who present at Southlake’s Emergency Department and require crisis support will be connected with the crisis worker. The crisis worker helps to support culturally affirming space and ensures their care experience is respectful, compassionate, and grounded in understanding. The crisis worker also strengthens partnerships with regional agencies to improve coordination and increase access to mobile crisis support throughout the community.
Beyond crisis services, Black-identifying children, youth, and families can access culturally responsive therapy and counselling directly through York Hills. Schools, community agencies, and youth-serving organizations across York Region are collaborating with York Hills to strengthen referral pathways and ensure families can connect with the support they need, when and where they need it.
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“We are committed to ensuring that Black children, youth and families across York Region have access to the mental health services they need. With our partnership with Southlake Health, we are reducing barriers and providing services that are culturally responsive, accessible and tailored to the needs of our community. This program reflects our shared commitment to equity, compassion, and empowerment. I am inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to the continued collaboration and meaningful impact this partnership will have on our community.”
- Dean Rokos, CEO, York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families
“Southlake Health is proud to partner with York Hills to expand the Kuumba program and deliver leading edge mental health care, close to home for Black-identifying children and youth. The new crisis worker will play a key role in providing essential resources that empower the Black community and enhance overall well-being.”
- Sherri Miller, Manager, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Southlake Health
“This new partnership to expand the Kuumba program represents hope, healing, and the strength of our communities. When Black children, youth, and families receive care that reflects their identities and understands their stories and experiences, it lays the foundation for meaningful change. When they are met with dignity, understanding, and culturally grounded care, it can transform lives and strengthen trust. Through this partnership, we are challenging the stigma around mental health in the Black community and taking a meaningful step forward in advancing equity.”
- Chantelle Vernon, Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility, Southlake Health
