NHAHA Earthquake Community Engagement Effort

International Meeting Updates: We continue to follow the developments on the grounds in Haiti. We have been participating in regular updates hosted by the Department of State, the White House and the USAID. We also receive regular reports from members in Haiti. Although, we commend the cluster approach in organizing the releif effort in Haiti, we are very concerned about the health risks faced by the displaced due to overcrowding, and lack of sanitation. Our position is that more secure shelters are necessary now and nothing should get in the way in building them. The rainy season is upon us and eventually we risk looking more lives in the process.

Haitian Diaspora Meeting Updates: NHAHA has been holding regular meetings with Partners in New York, Boston and Florida is working on a strategic plan to respond to the earthquake crisis in Haiti.

Boston

A task force has been created with many organizations in the regions.  Their task force, which is headed by Nesly Metayer who previously worked for CCHER and currently works for Tufts University, has created a bank account.  The task force is comprised of the pastors’ association, government officials, social services, and health care professionals

• The task force's priorities are to establish and restore communication in Haiti through telephone and internet.

• Secondly the task force has been working with the white house and Boston for protective status of Haitians here

• Finally the task force has been encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross and other organizations that are currently on the ground in Haiti.

The Center for Community Health, Education & Research(CCHER), a member of NHAHA has created a drop in center for social support of those in Boston. This is a place where the community can go as talk about how the earthquake has affected them. CCHER hasworked to open a clinic in Haiti as part of the organization's Haiti projectsthat has been destroyed by the earthquake.

Florida

Miami-Sant La Haitian Neighborhood, Florida has been encouraging people to send monetary donations to the Red Cross.  The organization is also focusing on protective status for Haitians in the US.   This organization has also established a system by which they provide valid information on the earthquake to the community.  Crisis counseling has also been provided through this organization where the community can express their feelings, thoughts etc… about the crisis in Haiti. 

St. Lucie County -Center for Health Education and Social Services (CHESS) 
Ms. Marie Remy reported that CHESS serves a community of about fifteen thousand Haitians.  Thus far they have held a press conference and a community forum. CHESS also had a team of hysicians  and RNs go to Haiti recently.  Ms. Remy also reported on CHESS recent candle light vigil. They are also able to provide counseling services through Hospice.  Also CHESS will be planning a benefit concert with the community to be held in two weeks.  CHESS is also working with lawyers on TPS, since it is a big concern in this community.

New York

Brooklyn -Disapora Community Services (DCS) has been engaged in:

·         Information gathering on the crisis

·         Attended a press conference and a meeting with the governor as well as a consortium meeting

DCS’ main focuses are:

• Rebuilding their medical site by partnering with hospitals
• Only financial donations are being accepted at this time
• DCS is making plans to collected very specific supplies and have comprised a list of those items.
• Thus far DCS has approached NYC and various hospitals for assistance
• DCS is also looking to provide social service and counseling services for Haitian American in NY in response to the crisis.
• Plans are being made for a trip in February.

Brooklyn - Haitian Center Council (HCC) is focusing on the mental health of the people in New York.  Dr. Pierre Louis has contacted the catholic churches to provide space for people to meet and share what they are feeling/ experiencing during this time.  HCC is also working with the department of health to provide mental health services. 

Queens- Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP)is engaged in: 

• Gathering information on how to locate family members in Haiti and focusing on available resources
  • such as drop off locations
  • T-Mobile giving free calls to and from Haiti
• Currently recruiting volunteers (Creole speaking)
• Ms. Elsie Accelien met with Mayor Bloomberg
• Spreading information on facebook – the most popular page is earthquake Haiti
• Still building relief efforts
• Have a system in place where those seeking counseling on simply someone to talk to can do so by walking into the HAUP office.

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Earthquake Updates

1. OCHA Most Recent Report

Recent Earthquake Articles

• Obama Renews Promise To Assist With Haiti's Earthquake Recovery During Preval's Visit To The White House
• Haiti earthquake: Getting back to school after the quake