African American Technical
Assistance & Training Program

The African American Technical Assistance & Training Program (AATA) has contracted with Alameda County Behavioral Health to provide training and resources to health care providers and the community in order to improve the mental health of African American clients.

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Culturally Rooted Healing

Integrating Ancestral Practices into Modern Mental Health

This course is an intermediate-level continuing education training
designed for mental health professionals working with culturally diverse
client populations. This hybrid training examines the clinical relevance
of ancestral healing practices, with centering focus on African diasporic
traditions (including hoodoo, root work, and ancestral reverence),
Indigenous/Native healing frameworks, and select South Asian and East
Asian healing systems (as legitimate, evidence-adjacent modalities that
operate alongside and inform contemporary clinical practice).
Drawing on culturally responsive care frameworks, somatic theory, and
applied metaphysics, participants will explore how ancestral worldviews
shape client identity, symptom presentation, help-seeking behavior, and
treatment engagement. Special emphasis is placed on implicit bias,
epistemic humility, and the ethical responsibilities of clinicians when
working at the intersection of spirituality, culture, and mental health.

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Kimberli Porter, LMFT, M.Ed., PhD.

June 19, 2026

Hybrid (Virtual & In Person)

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9:00 am – 1:30 pm, PST

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Engaging African American Men in Mental Healthcare

Engaging African American men in mental healthcare comes with unique challenges that are shaped by stigma, mistrust, trauma, racialized masculinity, and limited access to culturally responsive care. Recent research has highlighted the impact of these barriers on help-seeking, treatment engagement, and overall mental health outcomes among African American men (Adams et al., 2026; Cofield, 2025; Gere & Salimi, 2025; Major et al., 2025; Roberts et al., 2025; VanHook, 2025). This training will explore the factors that may make engagement in mental health services difficult, while helping participants better understand how social, cultural, and systemic influences affect treatment participation. With a focus on practical intervention strategies, culturally responsive engagement, and group discussion, this training encourages participants to identify approaches that strengthen rapport, increase trust, and improve service utilization among African American men. Additionally, attention will be given to the ways providers and systems may unintentionally contribute to disconnection, as well as how professionals can adapt their own practices to better meet the needs of this population. Through an interactive discussion of current literature and clinical application, emphasis will be placed on building more effective, affirming, and accessible pathways to mental health care for African American men.

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Testimonials

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“So pleased that such services of specific workshops for and about African American communities are being offered.” Training Attendee
“We learn waaaaaaaay more at your trainings than we do at other trainings (we’ve been to two of yours). You deliver reality …and it’s digestible vs. the diluted convoluted information. Your set up and delivery is by far the best! Thank you so much for a great time and the free delicious lunch!” Sandra
“While the training's may have been focused on African- American population, I always appreciate how applicable it is on a broader perspective for diverse populations.” Training Attendee
“This is the BEST training I've been to in regards to African American community. The history of stigma and under utilization of MH services. Very clear, had depth, really good engagement of guidance participation. I especially liked Roberta Sanders' approach.” Training Attendee

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