Abstract
Purpose: This research utilized a needs-assessment survey to collect data of services provided by 12 community-based organizations serving the Haitian immigrant community and the challenges faced by the community.
Background: New York City's Haitian Community is one of the largest in the United States. Dain & Batalova, 2023 reported a population of over 200,000 strong. While Haitians have a presence in all sectors, New York's Haitian community faces many challenges.
Methodology/Procedure: Twelve organizations completed the surveys addressing the needs-assessment and one focus groups session lasting 30-40 minutes. Prospective participants were heads of a not-for-profit organizations that provide services to Haitian immigrants and refugees in New York. Participants completed the online survey questionnaire and a focus group. Surveys were hosted by Qualtrics.com. Research team used Qualtrics’ text IQ to code the interviews and identify themes that brought further clarification of the participants’ perspectives. IRB approval was obtained to conduct the research
Results: Key data of the organizations’ structures, services, demographic information, and their clients’ needs in the following areas: 1) health, 2) education, 3) housing, 4) immigration, 5) technology, 6) entrepreneurship, and 7) cultural programming, providing understanding and awareness of the challenges and successes of the Haitian immigrant community from the organizational leaders' perspectives.
Conclusion: The research help to increase understanding and awareness of the challenges and successes of the Haitian immigrant community from the organizational leaders' perspectives. The research results also provided valuable information and nursing implications to guide the development of culturally congruent and inclusive care for the Haitian community. As nurses/healthcare providers, it is important to know/understand the needs of the populations being serviced/cared for. It is further important for leadership, policymakers, educators and researchers to be informed of the challenges being faced by the Haitian community, in order to develop/provide needed programs and interventions; to promote a healthy community for all.
Notes
References:
Bialystok, E. (2017). The bilingual adaptation: How minds accommodate experience. Psychological Bulletin, 143(3), 233.
Dain, B., & Batalova, J. (2023, November 8). Haitian immigrants in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/haitian-immigrants-united-states#:~:text=The%20nearly%20 731%2C000%20Haitian%20immigrants,the%204.6%20million%20Caribbean%20immigrants.
Karr, L. (2022, November 3). “Federal law excluding Creole translation burdens New York’s Haitian Voters.” The Haitian Times. https://haitiantimes.com/2022/11/03/creole-translation-elections-2022/
Magny-Normilus, C., & Whittemore, R. (2020). Haitian immigrants and type 2 diabetes: An integrative review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 22(2), 399-409.
Okagbue, E.F., Wang, M., & Ezeachikulo, U.P. (2022). Does school bullying show lack of effective
multicultural education in the school curriculum? International Journal of Educational Research Open, 3, 100178.
Sigma Membership
Alpha Omega
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Haitian Immigrants, Health Needs, New York, New York
Recommended Citation
Alexandre, Margarett, "Through the Looking-Glass: A Window Into the New York Haitian Community" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 198.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/198
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Through the Looking-Glass: A Window Into the New York Haitian Community
Seattle, Washington, USA
Purpose: This research utilized a needs-assessment survey to collect data of services provided by 12 community-based organizations serving the Haitian immigrant community and the challenges faced by the community.
Background: New York City's Haitian Community is one of the largest in the United States. Dain & Batalova, 2023 reported a population of over 200,000 strong. While Haitians have a presence in all sectors, New York's Haitian community faces many challenges.
Methodology/Procedure: Twelve organizations completed the surveys addressing the needs-assessment and one focus groups session lasting 30-40 minutes. Prospective participants were heads of a not-for-profit organizations that provide services to Haitian immigrants and refugees in New York. Participants completed the online survey questionnaire and a focus group. Surveys were hosted by Qualtrics.com. Research team used Qualtrics’ text IQ to code the interviews and identify themes that brought further clarification of the participants’ perspectives. IRB approval was obtained to conduct the research
Results: Key data of the organizations’ structures, services, demographic information, and their clients’ needs in the following areas: 1) health, 2) education, 3) housing, 4) immigration, 5) technology, 6) entrepreneurship, and 7) cultural programming, providing understanding and awareness of the challenges and successes of the Haitian immigrant community from the organizational leaders' perspectives.
Conclusion: The research help to increase understanding and awareness of the challenges and successes of the Haitian immigrant community from the organizational leaders' perspectives. The research results also provided valuable information and nursing implications to guide the development of culturally congruent and inclusive care for the Haitian community. As nurses/healthcare providers, it is important to know/understand the needs of the populations being serviced/cared for. It is further important for leadership, policymakers, educators and researchers to be informed of the challenges being faced by the Haitian community, in order to develop/provide needed programs and interventions; to promote a healthy community for all.
Description
Haitian immigrants in New York face many challenges. The needs assessment research provided challenges facing the community. The data collected through the needs assessment exchanges helped to tell the community’s stories, identify areas for future research, and advocate for public and private funds to address the community’s needs. This research provide valuable information/implications nurses can be utilize to provide care to the community.