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Like so many groups in the United States, Haitians face numerous health care challenges. But as a Black immigrant group, racism and xenophobia within the U.S. health care system are among the toughest obstacles to proper care.
Too often, they receive either late diagnoses or wrong information about their health and treatment options. At times, they do not receive any information at all to make informed decisions. The impact of this disparate treatment is that Haitians, and Black people overall, experience higher mortality rates for preventable conditions than their white counterparts. For example, Haitian immigrant women have a higher rate of cervical cancer mortality than any other ethnic group, according to a Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health review paper. Meanwhile, Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border face health disparities exacerbated by racism and cultural insensitivity.
These are harrowing realities. However, resources are available to help. Following are some organizations, groups, hotlines and clinics providing essential services for immigrants. If you know a resource to add, tell us in the comments or email Gabrielle@haitiantimes.com for consideration.
CALIFORNIA
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) works to advance the rights of immigrants and refugees. CHIRLA’s Immigrant Assistance Line (888-624-4752) is available on Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST for health care and other civil rights questions.
The Interfaith Refugee and Immigrant Service (IRIS) organization provides immigrant legal aid and resettlement assistance. Through its resettlement program, IRIS helps newly arrived refugees receive any basic services they’ll need, including health care.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) meets refugees at the airport with IRC volunteers and case workers, who then help them navigate government agencies and receive basic care upon immediate arrival. Outside of California, the IRC also works with medical professionals to provide care to sexual assault survivors. For more information, click here.
Birthing Project USA is a global African-American maternal health program that provides essential support to pregnant and postpartum women, including doula certifications and mutual support and encouragement for pregnant women. Its Center for Community Health and Wellbeing provides gynecological and prenatal care for low-income women.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance advocates for fair immigration policies, particularly for Haitians, Black people, LGBTQ+ people, torture survivors and women and girls. For Black migrants facing abuse and discrimination at the US-Mexico border, HBA provides essential services, including “culturally appropriate health care” and mental health care.
The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies champions the rights of asylum-seekers. Its Expert Witness Database contains a wide depository of health professionals and clinics. Free of charge, all are available for asylum-seekers in need of mental health services or physical evaluations. If you require these services or would like more information, click here.
CONNECTICUT
The National Diaper Network works with over 200 community-based diaper banks to collect and distribute free diapers to families in need. To find a diaper bank near you, click here. Its Alliance for Period Supplies helps those in need have access to menstrual products. To find a distributor near you, click here.
FLORIDA
Light of the World Clinic offers free health care resources and medical consults for uninsured patients. It is open five days a week, 9 a.m. to 3 and 5 p.m., and offers services in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Kreyol. To learn more, click here or call 1-954-563-9876.
Healthcare Network provides quality health care for its community in Immokalee. Through door-to-door canvassing, the team provides culturally empathetic care, including “goodie bags” with at-home COVID-19 tests and educational materials, sliding scale fees for financially struggling families and other health care aid. The team plans to host mini-health fairs and health care workshops. To learn more, click here or call 1-239-675-7080.
Also, The Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA) organizes medical mission trips that provide physical checkups, care packages and educational resources in English and Kreyol. To learn more about this resource, click here or call 1-305-609-7498.
The Center for Haitian Studies Health and Human Services serves the Little Haiti community. Its clinic provides free, culturally aware health care such as blood sugar screenings, breast exams and referrals to speciality care. A free OB/GYN specialty clinic provides gynecological and obstetrical care to residents of the Little Haiti or Little River area. The clinic is open Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For appointments, call 1-305-757-9555.
Their health education radio program in Kreyol informs listeners about available health care services. The program airs on Radio MEGA 1020 on Saturdays, 4:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and Wednesdays, 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. To learn more, click here.
Fanm Saj (Kreyol for “midwife”) provides wellness tools for families and their communities. Its Healing Justice Fund promotes healing practices in Miami, including an intervention team to help those suffering from abuse or trauma, while the Full Moon Sacred Healing Circles for members and Black women and non-binary people hopes to “create a safe and brave space.”. For more information, click here.
Sant La works to support the Haitian community with an array of programs. One is Health Insurance Enrollment, which offers aid in accessing Medicaid and other insurance programs. Its Strengthening Families Program offers clinical aid services for adolescents.
The Florida Department of Health provides several services for newly arrived Cuban and Haitian refugees, including cash assistance and Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance enrollment.
Commonsense Childbirth aims to help women have positive birth experiences and change the health care systems to prevent infant mortalities through its Access Clinic and other initiatives. All uninsured and low-income women can receive Prenatal, Postpartum and Women’s health care Clinic in Orlando and at the Birthing Center in Winter Garden. The Orlando clinic takes both onsite and telehealth visits. To make an appointment or get more information, click here.
GEORGIA
The Georgia Department of Public Health Refugee Health Program helps refugees with health screenings and sign up for Medicaid during their year-long eligibility period. To learn more, email them at DPH-RefugeeHealth@dph.ga.gov or call (404) 657-2700.
INDIANA
The Haitian Center of Evansville works to provide essential services to its local community. Through its resource referrals, those in need are led to available health care programs, food pantries and housing. Its staff speaks Haitian Kreyol.
KENTUCKY
The Community Response Coalition of Kentucky (CRC) helps immigrants navigate the complexities of the immigration system. Their services include legal assistance, medical treatment, transportation and more. They also offer referrals to free mental health services, pharmacies, medical clinics and eye care.
For more information, call them at 1-800-674-9217.
Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) provides resettlement services and other resources to refugees. They are helped with scheduling health screenings, follow-up appointments and referrals to community mental health services.
To learn about these programs, click here.
Louisville office: (502) 479-9180
Lexington office: (859) 226-5661
Covington office: (859) 547-5571
MASSACHUSETTS
The Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights offers trauma counseling for refugees and asylum seekers, regardless of their financial status. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (617) 414-4794.
NEW JERSEY
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers provides health and dental care services for migrant farmworkers and residents in South Jersey, regardless of financial or citizenship status. For migrants, SJFMC arranges medical appointments, health assessments and other healthcare services for those in need. They have interpreters and during the farming season (May through October), case management workers work with farmers to ensure their medical needs are taken care of. Additionally, SJFMC offers pick-up and drop-off transportation services to their various medical centers. To learn more about this service, click here or call 609-567-0200.
The Office of New Americans provides domestic medical screenings for refugees. Once completed, follow-up appointments can be made to address other pre-existing or new health issues. To learn more about this service, click here or email ona@dhs.nj.gov.
AMHENJ delivers and promotes the medical needs of the local Haitian community. They also educate and collaborate with other agencies to provide healthcare. To learn more about their efforts, click here or call 1 (973) 865 1317.
NEW MEXICO
Birthing Project USA is a global African-American maternal health program that supports pregnant and postpartum women. It offers comprehensive training for aspiring community doulas to receive their certifications. Its Sisterfriend program pairs pregnant mothers with volunteers for mutual support and encouragement.
NEW YORK
Growing up Healthy is a hotline established by the New York Department of State. It connects callers to several health care resources, such as nutrition, family planning, nutrition and pregnancy. Open 24/7, the hotline is also available in several languages, including Haitian Kreyol. The number to call is 1-800-522-5006. Their website also offers links to further health care services and information.
Ancient Song focuses on the maternal mortality rate amongst Latinx and Black people. It provides community education and doula services to low-income people of color. Through its Community Doula Program, clients are matched with community-based doulas. Ancient Song also offers childbirth education classes every month, open to doula clients and its community members. If you require a doula or want to learn more about this initiative, click here.
The Caribbean Women’s Health Association (CWHA) aims to help address health disparities, lower the infant mortality rates and aid immigrants in need of legal aid. It often hosts training and workshops for pregnant or postpartum women and young families on reproductive health, chronic disease management, breastfeeding, etc. It provides access to free birth and postpartum doulas for pregnant or postpartum women, free services such as monthly support groups for high-risk HIV- women and HIV+ women, condom distribution, HIV testing, enrollment in health insurance and referrals for victims of domestic violence.
Life of Hope (LOH) offers an array of programs and services. Its Sante Se Lavi program provides vital health resources through virtual programming and social media in Kreyol. LOH also published the Haitian Women’s Birth Equity Report, and is part of a larger initiative to expand access to pregnancy care for Haitian women. LOH also hosts groups to provide pre- and post-natal health information, Kreyol-speaking practitioners and coaching for high-risk pregnancies. To learn more, click here or call (718) 362-3161.
NYC Care is a health care access initiative providing free to low-cost services to New Yorkers unable to afford health insurance. Members receive a membership card that gives them access to other services, such as substance abuse treatment, STI testing, eye and dental care and affordable medication. For more enrollment information, call 646-692-2273 or click here.
NYC Sexual Health Clinics offers a variety of free to low-cost services for prospective patients, regardless of health care status or ability to pay sliding cost fees. Available on a walk-in basis are testing and treatments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), emergency contraception, birth control pills, pregnancy tests and vaccinations. Medical abortions are provided at certain locations and intrauterine devices (IUDs) by appointment. Call 347-396-7959 for details.
Village Birth International trains and mentors birth workers to provide empathetic and essential aid for their clients; their doulas have gone on to work with the Sankofa Doula Collective at the Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center. Its staff also provides free virtual doula care for stay-at-home, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Email info@villagebirthinternational.org or call 1-347-423-9507 for details.
Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) supports immigrants and refugees with their personal and medical needs. Initially created to serve the Haitian community, it has since grown into a community center catering to all residents of New York City and the Tri-State Area. Its Maternal Infant Health (MIH) is an outreach program composed of health professionals helping new parents and their families. This includes breastfeeding, chronic disease, safe sleep and nutrition workshops.
They also offer domestic violence counseling. If you or someone you know requires this service, their website instructs you to call either 718-527-3776 or 718-233-1186. It also provides more information on other healthcare services.
If you’d like to learn more about HAUP, click here.
Haitian-American Community Coalition (HCC) serves the Caribbean community in New York, regardless of their socioeconomic status. It offers a host of health programs, including a mobile health unit, HIV/AIDS education and testing, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and more.
Its mobile health unit services several Brooklyn neighborhoods, such as Flatbush, East Flatbush, Crown Heights and Brownsville. It offers social support services, referrals to hospitals and medical providers, housing assistance and condom distribution free of charge.
HCC’s HIV testing and education programs ensure that recipients are given the confidential care they need. This service is provided at their community office at 3807 Church Avenue, where you may work with a counselor to make a plan to reduce the risk of HIV and other STIs.
To learn more about HCC’s other health services, call them at (718) 679-9862 or click here.
Diaspora Community Services (DCS) supports the chronically ill, low-income and immigrant communities in Brooklyn. They offer several healthcare services. One of these is the Healthcare Access program. Once enrolled, recipients are assigned a case manager, who helps with setting up a care plan and finding appointments to help with medical needs. You may qualify if you’re eligible for Medicaid, show possible signs of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, or are struggling with a mental illness. If you require this service, click here for further information.
Its CONNECT initiative is an HIV prevention and substance management program for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. It offers sexual health counseling, prevention education sessions and more. If you or someone you know requires this service, click here for further information.
If you’d like to learn more about DCS, call 718-399-0200 or click here.
OHIO
The Haitian Community Network (HACONET) team’s prevention program reaches out to the “medically underserved Haitian population in Central Ohio.” It aims to help those in need of health care access and hosts health screenings for the community. If you live in this area and need assistance, visit HACONET’s website or call 614-600-5530. They are also open to visits by appointment and take emails at info@haconet.org.
PENNSYLVANIA
Dr. Johanne Louis Foundation aids underserved communities through health education, promotion and hunger relief. It operates both in the United States and Haiti. Its JLF closet, based in The First Haitian Church of God in Philadelphia, offers food, clothing and health screenings to low-income and homeless individuals. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation started handing out free tablets to low-income individuals in Philadelphia and Delaware counties. The tablets virtually connect them to family Facetimes and medical visits.
To learn more about their work, click here or call 1-215-650-1994.
NSC provides health and wellness services to immigrants and refugees in the Greater Philadelphia area each year. Its Health Access Program (HAP) connects clients to primary care in local clinics that can serve culturally diverse groups. Under this initiative, individuals can receive free dental services, free eyeglasses and transportation to health screenings and medical appointments.
The Refugee Health Access connects newly arrived refugees to primary care and screenings. Under this program is the Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative (PRHC), formed in September 2010. PHRC aims to create equity in refugee healthcare in Philadelphia. It offers primary care services and domestic health screenings.
To learn about NSC’s other health and wellness programs, click here or call 1-215-893-8400.
TEXAS
Houston Immigration Legal Services helps immigrants receive quality legal services in Houston. Their Connect for Healthcare program created a series of videos that explain immigrants’ eligibility for healthcare with a greater goal of creating a more equitable system in the future. Another program is the Immigrant Resource Hotline, 1-883-468-4664, which provides referrals to legal services and information on other immigrant organizations.
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services advocates for the rights of immigrants in the United States. Some of its services include support with finding shelter, signing up for Medicaid, food and transportation. To learn more or get help, click here or call 1-210-226-7722.
VIRGINIA
March of Dimes’ Mobile Health Centers provides culturally aware medical care for women and children across the country, regardless of financial or immigration status. Each bus has two clinic rooms with a team of midwives providing prenatal care. The centers partner with local hospitals and universities and have current locations in Columbus, New York City, Phoenix and Tucson, and Washington, D.C. For more information, click here.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has an Office of Refugee Resettlement. They help Cuban and Haitian migrants with immediate assistance. Their refugee program provides short-term medical assistance, wellness groups and health screenings.
WEST VIRGINIA
The West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program (WVCHIP) helps working families without health insurance for their families. Services offered include hospital and doctor visits, dental care, immunizations and more. If you reside in West Virginia and want to learn if your family is eligible, click here.
West Virginia University Women’s Resource Center offers programs focused on the needs of its female students. This includes guides to reproductive health services, other immigrant organizations and further healthcare resources for those in need. To learn more, click here or email wrc@mail.wvu.edu.
Know of a resource in your community we should add? Send the information to Gabrielle@haitiantimes.com or add it to the comments for consideration.
The post Free or low-cost health care around the country Haitian immigrants should know appeared first on The Haitian Times.
