I.F.H.E.C. Programs

KIMBE AYISIEN AN SANTE (KEEP HAITIANS HEALTHY) – A health education program for Haitian adults and families that coordinates four levels of support for the uninsured: community outreach, health literacy, health navigation, and disease management. The components seek to help people achieve greater self-sufficiency in obtaining healthcare, control their chronic disease and its long-term complications, and address issues of cultural beliefs and values in healthcare encounters. The agency uses a number of community based strategies such as parish nurse educators in churches, physicians serving as health educators in community center settings and radio programming to educate Haitian communities about health care and access to health care resources.
I.F.H.E.C. partners with the Caridad Health Clinic, Samaritan Gardens Community Center, Florida Department of Health and other agencies. Major funders for this program include Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Palm Healthcare Foundation, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and the Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service.

INVOLVE HAITIANS IN CLOSING THE GAP - began in 2001 with support from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Minority Health and the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties. It was successfully implemented for five years, receiving “Best Practice” recognition every year. The project aimed to reduce rates of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular illnesses among Haitians in Palm Beach County from West Palm Beach to Delray Beach and Belle Glade. The program delivered targeted, ethnically and culturally sensitive diabetes, hypertension and cancer screening, prevention education, referral and advocacy, built around an aggressive program of home visitation and follow-up.
In 2004, I.F.H.E.C. received funds from the Allegany Franciscan Ministries to add a Health Care Access component to the project. A Parish Coordinator assisted clients in applying for public health insurance, (Medicaid, Medicare, Health Care District) and provided translation services at local community clinics.

MEDIA EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND MESSAGES – Since 1994, I.F.H.E.C. has broadcast more than 800 radio programs on various health issues. Presently the weekly health education program, I.F.H.E.C. Sante can be heard every Wednesday, from 6pm to 7pm on WPBR 1340 AM.

HEALTH EDUCATION WORKSHOPS -Since June 1994, the organization has held over 250 health education workshops on topics including blood pressure control, diabetes control and complications, understanding AIDS, sex education, financial awareness, stress reduction, communication and parenting, with in excess of 10,000 participants attending. Qualified professionals within the community in various local churches and schools lead the workshops. They are open to the public.

HEALTH SCREENING –Since 1994, I.F.H.E.C. has held many health fairs to screen participants for various health related conditions, such as: diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, heart problems, proper immunizations, school physicals and to teach about breast self-examinations, etc. The events received the support of local organizations and governmental agencies, such as the Palm Beach County Childhood Immunization Coalition and the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.
I.F.H.E.C. has also worked closely with other organizations offering such events to minorities by facilitating the marketing of the event and encouraging Haitian students to volunteer as translators. Barbara Van de Vate from Junior League of the Palm Beaches wrote: "Your assistance helped us to ensure that we had adequate resources to meet the needs of Creole-speaking patients. We look forward to working with you again in 1996".

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS -In Apri11995, I.F.H.E.C. began the hypertension and diabetes support group at the New Haitian Church of the Nazarene in Lake Worth, Florida. The group now meets the last Thursday of each month at Bethel Evangelic Baptist Church in Delray Beach. Clients, especially seniors, increase their knowledge, share their experiences, and receive emotional support to make healthy lifestyle changes.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC SERVICES – Since 1994, I.F.H.E.C.  has informally assisted the Haitian Community in obtaining assistance from other local area charitable organizations and governmental agencies that provide refugee assistance, medical services, counseling, etc.

CHURCH HEALTH MESSAGES -Five churches participated in the pilot demonstration of health messages during church services. Many pastors stated that they felt the need to repeat during church services the Health Message broadcasted every Saturday.

YOUTH GUIDANCE -"GIVING HAITIAN TEENS A NEW DIRECTION" was implemented in 1998-1999 to facilitate successful transition to adulthood. This project had two interrelated program components: Public Education/ Awareness and Communication Action. All educational activities contributed to decrease the incidence of early sexual involvement, early pregnancy & HIV infection, and the risks and consequences of the above. Participants were proactively directed to appropriate service delivery systems.
BREAST HEALTH AMONG HAITIAN WOMEN -This project was implemented in July 2000 in order to educate the Haitian women in breast cancer detection. The Breast Health Among Haitian Women Project, funded by the Komen Foundation, provided free mammograms to low-income Haitians; and encouraged preventive check-ups to reduce the risks of death due to breast cancer.

ANNUAL COMMUNITY GATHERING -The organization holds an annual event in which members of the community have an opportunity to "meet, eat, and laugh together" while discussing psycho-social, economic, and health issues specific to their community and learning about how to improve their health status through community organization.