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Event Description
5th Annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health
Still We Rise:
Religion, Spirituality and Well-Being in the Haitian Community
Saturday, May 7, 2016
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Program Directors: Gemima St. Louis, PhD and Castagna Lacet Cadet, PhD, MSW
Keynote & Invited Speakers: J. Abède Alexandre, Psy.D. & Marie Maude Evans, M.A.
The Annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health brings together practitioners, researchers, educators, public health officials, faith-based and spiritual leaders, community advocates, and policymakers whose current work can inform the development of a comprehensive, community-based, and culturally-oriented mental health agenda for Haitians in the Diaspora.
Program Description:
Haitian religious views and spiritual practices are widely misunderstood and often vilified in mainstream forums. Yet, religion and spirituality are deeply rooted in the Haitian psyche, and are influential forces that empower and enrich the lives and personal experiences of Haitian immigrants as well as bring meaning and purpose to their existence. Given the pivotal role of religion and spirituality in the Haitian culture, mental health providers must be cognizant of misconceptions about Haitian spiritual values and traditions, understand the impact of religion and spirituality on help-seeking behaviors among Haitian individuals, and be knowledgeable about spiritually-oriented treatment strategies and interventions that can engage Haitian clients in care and promote their health and well-being.
The purpose of this interdisciplinary conference is to explore the relationship between religion, spirituality and psychosocial well-being. It seeks to examine the complex roles and dynamics of Haitian spiritual belief systems and practices, explore the rich history of Christianity and Vodou and their impact on concepts of health and illness in the Haitian culture, and provide a context for a more meaningful discourse on traditional and nontraditional approaches to healing practices and symptom management in the Haitian community. Furthermore, the conference aims to shed light on the roles that religion and spirituality play in coping in times of distress, and emphasize the strengths that Haitians gain from their religious and spiritual connections.
Learning Objectives:
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Describe cultural concepts of health and illness with an emphasis on the “mind-body-soul” connection
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Discuss spiritual beliefs and practices, and their influence on psychosocial well-being
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Examine the relationship between religious/spiritual worldviews, and natural and supernatural causes of mental health and illnesses
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Explore the history of Vodou as an Afro-Haitian religion and its fundamental principles and rituals
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Address the roles of Christianity, Vodou and other spiritual practices in promoting health and well-being
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Discuss culturally-sensitive treatment interventions that incorporate spiritual/religious beliefs and practices
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Describe alternative approaches to healing and symptom management in the Haitian community
Program Code: HMH5
6 CE Credits | $130 includes lunch
($65 for students and members of the general public not requesting CE Credits)
Location: William James College, Newton
J. Abede Alexandre, ThM, DMin, PsyD, holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Fox University (PsyD, 1989), and a Master’s degree and Doctorate in the field of Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM, DMin). He currently works as a School Psychologist for the Boston Public Schools. He is also the Founder and Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Congregation in Roslindale, MA. He and his wife Edith are the proud parents of two sons: Jean Abede II and Jonathan Alexandre.
Marie Maude Evans, M.A., holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Psychology from Lesley University. She currently works as a Health Manager at the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) and as a Mental Health Clinician at South Shore Mental Health. She has served the Boston Haitian Community as a Child Advocate, holding the position of Family Advocate for 10 years. Adding to her rich and varied set of skills, she studied Economics and worked for several years as an accountant for a telecommunications firm; she also obtained a degree in Fashion Design at the Academy Verona, which led her to opening her own business. A native of Jacmel, Haiti, Ms. Evans re-located to the U.S. in 1990 and resides in Mattapan, Massachusetts. She is a Manbo (high priestess) in the Haitian Vodou tradition and she serves a range of clientele who seeks spiritual guidance. She maintains strong connections to her temple in Haiti by traveling there each summer to conduct initiations, spiritual weddings, feasts, and other ceremonies.
Event Type:Continuing Education Program Category:Multicultural & Global MH Early registration ends on Jan 17, 2016.
Regular registration starts on Jan 18, 2016 and ends on Apr 26, 2016.
Late registration starts on Apr 27, 2016.
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Registration Fees
| Fee Type | Early | Regular | Late |
| Religion, Spirituality and Well-Being in the Haitian Community - HMH5 | | Member Fee: | $130.00 | $130.00 | $130.00 | | Non-Member Fee: | $130.00 | $130.00 | $130.00 |
| Graduate Students, General Public, Other Professionals (No CE Credits) | | Member Fee: | $65.00 | $65.00 | $65.00 | | Non-Member Fee: | $65.00 | $65.00 | $65.00 |
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