Empowering Haitian-Americans and Migrants through Culturally relevant heath information, education, and services to improve their wellbeing and community integration
Empowering Haitian-Americans and Migrants through Culturally relevant heath information, education, and services to improve their wellbeing and community integration
Community Education and Outreach
The program serves clients who have immigrated to the United States in the past five-ten years and are exhibiting difficulties in acculturating to their new found lives. Risk factors among program participants include lack of cultural practices consistent with US health care system. Like many from other immigrant groups, Haitians have come to this country eager to improve their lives through hard work and education.
HAPHI conducts outreach into the community to let potential clients know that this service is available. The Health Educator coordinates with local health service providers to provide interpreter services during emergency situations. In addition, the Health Educator provides cultural sensitivity training to other health care providers on an as needed basis, with a minimum of two such trainings a year. Our experience has thought us that one of the major barriers in attainment of health equity is lack of cultural sensitivity. Even when a client speaks English, health care providers may not be sensitive to cross-cultural misunderstandings.
