By Sam Bojarski
From mental health challenges, to food insecurity and employment, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the Haitian community.
“There’s a lot of anxiety right now, the biggest issue is about food,” said Yolette Williams, executive director of the Haitian American Alliance (HAA), a nonprofit based in Brooklyn that supports the empowerment of the Haitian-American community.
To help Haitian community organizations and leaders share their needs and service offerings amid the coronavirus pandemic, Healthfirst ‒ New York state’s largest nonprofit health insurer ‒ has convened multiple virtual forums. The sessions, which have occurred the last two Thursdays in July, have included many organizations that serve communities in Long Island.
In addition to helping Healthfirst create solutions, “sometimes what will happen is we will be able to connect dots, so that others who are participating in the forum can say, ‘hey this is something we can address,’” said Miguel Centeno, vice president of community engagement at Healthfirst.
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