Opportunity/Need

There is an ongoing need for public health and social services in the Haitian community due to persisting disparities in health, education, and socio-economic status. 

There is a particular need for services among the families of new immigrants, where generational issues are most keenly felt. Parents with traditional Haitian values, are often perplexed by their own children, who are adopting American values.

Parents need more information on parenting and networking with others in the community who are having similar experiences, and a support system based on Haitian pride and culture. Parents in these hard-working families often hold several jobs, leaving them insufficient time for their families.

As a result, children in these families often lack much-needed support to successfully navigate an often hostile, resource-poor urban environment rife with issues such as violence, drugs, and a general hopelessness about the future.