About AMANI
AMANI is the first-ever Canadian hospital and community partnership focused on advancing care for Black youth.
AMANI represents a provincial network of organizations in Ontario with a shared vision of providing programs and services that support and empower youth who identify as African, Caribbean, and/or Black to achieve their wellness goals.
Programs and services include our Mental Health & Substance Use Program (formerly, the Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth or “SAPACCY”), a Pilot Project in Collaboration with the Toronto Northwest Justice Centre, and our Black Youth Advisory Panel.
To access these supports,
What is AMANI’s approach to supporting Black youth with mental health and/or substance use challenges?
- AMANI takes into consideration the unique challenges that Black youth face. Things like anti-Black racism, criminalization, poverty, and other forms of discrimination and oppression can impact our mental health and make it difficult to access the right services.
- Our clinical teams’ programs and services work from an Africentric, youth-focused, non-judgmental, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, harm reduction, intersectional, feminist, strength-based, and healing-centred lens to support Black youth with mental health and/or substance use challenges to move towards recovery.
- All of AMANI’s clinical programs and services are confidential.
Background and Context
The teal labyrinth over the “A” is symbolic of the pilgrimage and journey involved in moving towards mental wellness.
“AMANI” is the Swahili word for “peace” and the Arabic word for “wishes.”
Black youth and service providers who were involved in our rebranding felt it was important to highlight AMANI’s connection to Black communities across Ontario through a name that reflects our Africentric* values and commitment to providing holistic, culturally responsive care.
AMANI aims to be a space for Black youth, families, and caregivers to receive support for their overall wellness, including mental health and substance use counselling, recreational activities, community-based groups for youth, family, and parent/caregiver support.
*Africentrism is the import, respect, and dignity afforded to persons of African descent, the multitudes of African cultural expression, values, and, in light of the pervasiveness of racism and systemic oppression, the right of people of African descent to strive for self-determination. It recognizes that common ancestry serves as the critical linchpin for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) peoples, whether they are multi-generation Canadian or have immigrated to Canada by way of Africa, the Caribbean, South or Central America, England, the United States, or elsewhere. At its core, Africentricity seeks to combat a complex history of anti-Black racism and colonialism and to honour, celebrate, and support ACB peoples.
Youth and Community Engagement
Meaningful youth and community engagement are key values at AMANI.
Young people, their families, and communities have been part of our core team since the very beginning. Our Black Youth Advisory Panel and Black Youth Online Network are teams of over 150 African, Caribbean, and/or Black youth ages 12–29 from all across Ontario who lead and support the development and re-envisioning of a mental health care system that promotes wellness and effectively meets their needs.