Backgrounder: Health Canada announces new supports to improve the health of Black Canadians

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced more than $6 million in funding under the Substance Use and Addictions Program and the Supporting Community Mental Health Crisis Response Initiative.

Through Canada's first-ever Black Justice Strategy, the Government of Canada is investing in initiatives that address substance use and addictions, support mental health, and help build healthier futures for Black communities.

As part of this strategy, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, has announced more than $6 million in funding under the Substance Use and Addictions Program and the Supporting Community Mental Health Crisis Response Initiative.

Black Health Education Collaborative ($708,548)

This project, led by Black Health Education Collaborative, a national Black-focused, Black-led, and Black-serving (B3) organization, is strengthening the capacity of substance use and addictions providers across Canada to deliver culturally relevant, anti-racist care to Black communities through the development and delivery of new substance use and addictions care-focused tools and training.

Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network ($392,500)

This project is addressing substance use and recovery among Black adults in the National Capital Region by connecting individuals leaving institutional or hospital-based treatment to culturally grounded peer support, harm-reduction education, and community recovery circles led by trained Black peer facilitators.

East African Community Resource Center ($338,174)