Kasserian Ingera Child Wellbeing Support
Ifarada: Centre for Excellence is proud to work with the Durham Children’s Aid Society on the newest collaboration in a community-based initiative supporting families with African ancestry.
Kasserian Ingera and Ifarada offer two levels of intervention support:
Service Coordination
Through a culturally-informed, strength-based, and holistic approach we work with your family to identify the needs, and strengths of the family. Our service coordinators will guide your family to access support whether within Ifarada or with our community.
Family Outreach Our family outreach provides an Africentric wraparound approach to support the well-being of the child, youth, and family. The family outreach provides intensive services to families through 2-3 visits per week, crisis support, and family counselling. Our approach is grounded in theories Africentric, holistic, and trauma-informed approaches.
Read about the changes with Durham Children’s Aid Society and Ifarada: Centre for Excellence (Announcement with Durham Children’s Aid Society)
“Healing comes when the individual remembers his or her identity the purpose chosen in the world of ancestral wisdom and reconnects with what world of the Spirit”
Malidoma Patrice Some (1999) in the The Healing Wisdom of Africa: Finding Life Purpose Through Nature, Ritual, and Community.
About the Program
The Kasserian-Ingera program started in April 2022. In the first six months of the program, we serviced up to 50 families through Durham Children’s Aid Society and community -based referrals.
Our Team
The Ifarada-Kasserian team is a diverse group of professionals who provide support to families and the development of the program in a unique, inclusive and responsive manner.
Family Wellbeing Workers
John Jack, Rodney Nembard, and Monique Perry are part of our Family Wellbeing team. They respond to referrals, meet with families and the Society worker, and provide direct support to the family. The family wellbeing workers have a range of experience such as clinical experience, outreach, case management, family support, and more. Our family wellbeing workers actively participate in training, supervision, and reviews to ensure their processes align with an Africentric, holistic, and inclusive approach that benefits Black families. Furthermore, our family wellbeing workers are grounded in understanding anti-Black racism, and its impact on children, youth, adults, parenting, and of course, families.
Therapeutic Team
Our therapeutic team provides psychotherapy, and consulting services to families who require individualized support. Our team possesses a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology or Social Work, and possess experience working with Black families, providing clinical interventions, and treatment to families.
Sessions consist of one hour weekly or bi-weekly appointments, up to 10 sessions..
A psychological consult is usually two to three hours with a psychologist with one of the associated firms.
Support Team
Ifarada’s team provides support and guidance to the team to ensure the project is well supported.
Rhiana Guerra, Program Development Team Lead, provides support by following up with new referrals and assigning to the family worker.
Nicole Perryman, Executive Director, provides guidance and support to the team and collaborates with the Durham Children’s Aid Society project team.
Family Relief Fund
Our program can also provide immediate relief and supports to families, up to $250 in direct need. Usually, the fund can deliver supports within 24-28 hours to families.
Family Gathering & Building Connections
Our team will hold family gatherings to build connections with the the community. Check our Eventbrite for updates on upcoming dates/times.
What is an Africentric Wraparound Approach? Read More
What are the rights of African Canadian and African Ancestry peoples? Review our code of ethics in serving the Black population, and advocating for children and families. The Rights of Black Families.