PUBLIC POLICY

NHAHA is developing its public advocacy service area to educate the community and policy makers on specific policies impacting Haitian Health through policy analysis, policy briefs and position papers and mobilization efforts. Current issues of interest include:

       - Census 2010
       - Access to health care
           - Language Rights
           - Universal Health Care
           - Cultural Competency Administration
       - Health Disparities


CENSUS 2010

It has long been believed that the Haitian population has been grossly undercounted. Illegal aliens, language and cultural barriers are all blamed for the problem. As census data are used in determine level of funding and services that impact on health, NHAHA is advocating for practices that would ensure a more accurate count of the Haitian population.

Current Activities
Promoting appropriate practices to increase census in the Haitian community Following are NHAHA's recommendations for Census 2010:

1 - Eliminate the language Barriers
       - Increase bilingual and multilingual interviewers and call takers; ensure that 2010 census questionnaires be translated in proper Creole
       - Standardize the interview and translation process by developing guide and Creole glossaries

2 - Ensure cultural relevancy in the process
Ensure Haitian Representation at all levels and stages of the process including contracting with Haitian community- based organizations, Haitian Scholars, Researches, Haitian language media (TV, radio, and newspaper), and vertical and lateral government partners through strategic alliances for the 2010 Census and ACS promotion/publicity and service delivery efforts.

3 - Improved Communication
NHAHA would like to establish a mechanism for two-way communicating with the Bureau. NHAHA would like to receive updates on:
       - In preparation of the census, build community partnerships to better outreach, inform, educate and engage the community in the census process
       - Notification on all 2010 census decisions Newly released data products pertaining to racial/ethnic groups and foreign-born population
       - Press Releases

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ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Language Rights

NHAHA is interested in ensuring that Haitians have access to translation services in accessing care

Current Activities

1 - Educating and Raising Awareness of the community on the 2006 Translation regulations in New York City

NHAHA applauds the passage of new translation hospital regulations in New York, which provide Legal protections, designed to ensure that non-English speakers receive care and materials in their language at medical facilities. NHAHA commends the work of the New York Lawyers for Public Interest in this area. The not-for-profit organization has done outreach, conduct advocacy efforts and use litigations that have forced hospitals to adopt new interpretation/ translation services for non-speaking immigrants accessing care. Their "Know your Rights" fact sheet and other materials in diverse language including Creole is a great tool for educating the Haitian community on actions they can take if they their rights for translation are violated.

Please see:
http://www.nylpi.org/pub/Know_Your_Rights___DOH_Regs___English.pdf
http://stage.nylpi.org/pub/Interpreter_Card.pdf

2 - Assessing translation services to Haitians in the U.S
NHAHA's 2007 conference is convening a panel made up of representation from New York, Florida and Massachusetts to speak on the issue of availability of translation services to Haitians in respective regions. The information gathered will be used to guide further efforts on the future.

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Universal Health Care

We know that the lack of Insurance is a serious barrier to care for the Haitian population. NHAHA is looking to weigh in on the impact of Universal Health Care in the context of better health access for Haitians.

Current Activities

Education and Awareness
With the buzz created with the new documentary "Sicko", on the case for universal health care, NHAHA will:
       - Follow and bring regular news on universal health care
       - Provide analysis on the issue as it relates to Haitian health

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Cultural Competency

Research has shown what field practitioners had known long ago, that a culturally competent service is necessary to providing quality care to immigrant non-English speaking population.
http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/Goode_evidencebasecultlinguisticcomp_962.pdf

Current Activities

Promote competency among care providers
NHAHA is planning the development of a training curriculum module on "Dealing with the Haitian Client". The purpose of the module is to offer training to providers and institutions working with Haitians with a focus on culture, religion and health beliefs.

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HEALTH DISPARITIES

NHAHA's work revolves around the goal of reducing health disparities among Haitians. Haitian Health disparities are rooted in complex and interrelated factors; therefore, NHAHA's work is based on a multi-pronged approach.

Current Activities

Promote health parity in Haitian communities
       - Educate and mobilize the community on health disparities. Just like past conferences, this year conference focuses on addressing health disparities in Health by addressing disparities in Marketing and communication in Haitian health.
       - Support policies and laws that promote health parity among immigrants.
       - NHAHA is working to establish partnership with bureaus such as the Office of Minority Health to further our shared goal of improving the health of minorities in the US.

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