Our History
Until 2020, the development of centers/clinics to serve mental health and trauma care in the Haitian community was barely nonexistent and the mere clinics that existed were not culturally / linguistically linked to newcomer services.
During the expansion of traveling migrants across the United States and particularly at the end of 2019, we saw the need to offer cultural/linguistic mental services in the community. The limited mainstream services espoused with the lack of cultural affinity, the increased number of newcomers with trauma in our schools, and the continued fear of insecurity amongst them forced the dialogue for service to the most vulnerable in our community. The magnitude of newcomers with mental health expanded day by day, the infrastructure of the existing CBO could not respond and that led us to the development of systems for mental care with the collaboration of IFSI.
BASIMH was created in 2019 during COVID-19 to serve the most vulnerable newcomers in the field of counseling, to address an unforeseen trauma climate variability and its impacts on the Haitian community. The vision was to be collaborative, to build an alliance of support with other professional practitioners in the field of psychology as a way to respond to the new challenges. The aim is to coordinate the intervention program as an integrative model program in the Haitian immigrant community to foster a climate of change for the providers.
BASIMH is created as a central research program in conjunction with IFSI as an institute to explore the family ecosystems during and after Haitian integration into the community. As a collaborative branch of IFSI, BASIMH aims at three (3) basic pillars (Psycho-education, acculturation stress and integration of families, and research as a means to provide a basis for advocacy). The work begins with particular attention to the climatic anomaly of COVID-19, the mass migration of Haitians from Latin America, and South America whose climatic living conditions in Haiti were less than human. BASIMH exists to provide elements of support to providers and respond to local policymakers and service providers on the mechanisms that control the frequency and intensity of extreme events that affect Haitian families while they are settling in their newly found residence.
As a branch that constitutes the research base of IFSI, this initiative aims to pursue a larger scope to develop a vision that foresees the future and work to advance and meet unforeseen challenges, BASIMH works will contribute to the development of IFSI natural resources with a specific analysis of the effect of migration on the family ecosystems, the stress on the local community to address supplies and demands and the extreme phenomena that cities and town must do to adjust their various institutions (schools, hospitals, local businesses, churches, law enforcement, etc.)
Migration, Acculturation, and Resettlement
Isolation
Political Persecution/War and Civil Violence
Navigating A New Culture
Parenting Stressors
Trauma & Stress Related/Mood Disorders
Meet Our Team
Dr. Edner Cayemite
Director
Edner J. Cayemite is a long time affiliate of Boston Public Schools (26 years). Currently, he is teaching Math, Engineering and Science at West Roxbury Academy and serves as the Chief Academic Officer of Ethnicity at the Disease Research Center. Previously, Edner was a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Pine Minor College and the University of Massachusetts as well as the Director of thePEngineering program at Dorchester High School. Over the last fourteen years, Professor Cayemite helped to shape structurally many organizations in the greater Boston area.
Edner J. Cayemite earned a Doctorate in Leadership Management and Policy from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Doctorate in Applied Theology from Talbot, a Masters in Data Communication (Engineering) and a Masters in Education. Professor Cayemite gives lectures to empower academically his surrounding community. He is constantly at the forefront of strategic development in education and research. Dr. Cayemite has presented over 40 papers and posters in areas such as literacy , education, cultural diversity, health care disparity, active empowerment, integrative technology /science/math /decentralization, interaction and full participation of people in system of development, the real meaning of equality in our humanity.
Edner J. Cayemite is a strong advocate for youth inclusion in decision making at Church, local grassroots organizations, schools and the community at large. He is a fervent believer of inclusion and participation in a democratic society. The dream of Dr. Cayemite is to ensure that the younger generation will be included in all aspects of the development of our society. He has been with IFSI since its inception and has been instrumental in developing the weekend academy program as a way to give access to academic skills development and quality test preparation techniques to minority students.
Alexandra Darius-Jean
Program Coordinator
My name is Alexandra Darius-Jean, I received my Masters in Social Work from Boston University in 2005. I am professionally trained to respond to student’s mental health needs in supporting them to thrive during times of stressful situations, major life transitions/changes and other circumstances impeding their success. For several years, I have been working as a guidance counselor serving culturally diverse youth with a primary focus on three main domains of development: academic, college and career readiness and social/emotional. It is my moral imperative to ensure that I always use an equitable lens in my approach to supporting students. My role as a school counselor continues to be truly rewarding as I serve students and their families who are vested in educational success.
I recently joined the IFSI Mental Health Department due to my continued commitment to the mental health of children and their families. I currently run the mental health services of the Immigrant Family Services Institute, which is a new initiative that supports immigrant families and their children