Divine Interventions

I am currently in Haiti, while my son is the hospital in the United States. When you tell a Haitian your child is hospitalized- they begin to mourn. They turn their faces down, they become silent.

Today it happened again with my drivers. I said: "Babyboys- he's in the states. He's not going to die. Children don't die in the states a lot." 

They popped up with hopeful eyes and told me sick children die in Haiti. I know, loves.
I know they do.

Mama Jacky and her five children are our Haiti Mama family living closest to life and death. She has the most beautiful baby. I feel the love of an aunt for that sweet child. The baby has been sick, her hair is starting to look malnourished, she was severely dehydrated in December. I was starting to panic. I was starting to get a little mad at the universe for not making it easier to change this families circumstances.

Everyone who works in Haiti has experienced death. Lots of death. Everyone but me. I am terrified of losing a client to poverty.

The Social Work Story:

Intake and Family History:
Social Workers met Jacky on July 7th, 2014 at Place Boyer in Petionville. He reported living and sleeping on the streets. Jacky exhibited fear and confusion, he avoided all confrontation and often disappeared when other children or adults exhibited escalated emotion. Jacky engaged best when only with a social worker in a one on one setting. Jacky rarely showed positive emotion.

Haiti Mama Social Workers began to develop trust and built an alliance with Jacky. Theodore was determined the best fit for client when beginning reunification process.

Clients self-report:
Displaced from mother during the earthquake. Moved to Petionville with father. Father gave him as restavek (child slave) to wealthy Haitian family. Jacky was abused and not fed while working for this family. He stole $1000 US from family and ran away. He returned to his father's home. His father promised to kill him for stealing, and sent him to the streets. Jacky met Haiti Mama approximately two months later. Location of mother unknown since earthquake.

Intervention:
7/29/14: Haiti Mama social workers visited Jacky's father's home. Father threatened to kill Jacky while social workers were present. Social workers asked father for other family contacts and any family information, father provided phone number for maternal aunt. Jacky returned to streets.

8/1/14: Phone Call. Theodore reaches Jacky's aunt on the phone, who confirms that Jacky's mother was moved to Canaan tent cities after the earthquake. Aunt called Theodore again in the afternoon to confirm that Jacky's mother was in Canaan, but did not have a phone.


8/4/14: Theodore and Jacky leave Petionville on moto to Canaan to look for Jacky's mother.

Theodore's report: We arrived at Canaan and begin to walk on foot, asking the community if they knew Jacky's mother. We were unable to find her for one hour while walking. I went to buy water for Jacky and I. Jacky began to run because he saw his mother. His mother saw him and ran to him too. It was a very happy moment. His mother cried to see him. Jacky is back with his mother now.
But this family is very poor. They do not have enough to live. They do not have enough food or enough water. I told I would like to bring my boss to meet her. She wants you to come.

8/11/14: All Haiti Mama social workers and team leader travel to Canaan to meet Mama Jacky, complete assessment and rehabilitation plan. Family was warm and generous. Mama Jacky
and Jacky smiled the entire visit. Social Workers assessed need and offered temporary support of food and water. Social workers began education plan for Jacky, and employment plan for Chantelle. Social workers offered children's Tylenol to mother for two year and baby and provided repeated instructions of safe use.

It costs Haiti Mama $30-$40 to travel to Canaan to visit this family. Theodore visited them every other week bringing food. He continued to report that their conditions were not livable with genuine concern for their well-being. Theodore successfully enrolled Jacky in school, Haiti Mama provided a school uniform, shoes, a backpack and all of the books needed.

Haiti Mama executive director, Tausha Pearson, returned to the US October 6th, 2014 to fundraise and obtain sponsorship for this family.

Sponsorship was not obtained. Tausha returned to Haiti in December. The two youngest children in the family were extremely malnourished, dehydrated, and sick. Haiti Mama provided food and water and reported to family that sponsorship had not been obtained.

This is where my new job SUCKS.
As a social worker in the states, I would have every resource needed to stabilize this family. In my new job- I have to find the money. I posted their story four times. I prayed. I cried. I talked to people in person. I told more people their story. But the sponsorship just didn't come. But, I remained faithful that God was gonna do it. I know He's gonna do this.

Haiti Mama is Social Work powered by #godmagic.
I gave you the case notes.

The #godmagic Story:

A cool girl named Mallory called me up in October and said she'd like to deliver clothes to all of our families. I said SURE! She said she'd like Ford Motor Company to tag along while they shoot a video of it. I said SURE!

I left my family in the States one more time and jumped on a plane to Haiti on January 12th. I met Mallory at the airport, and helped her take on Haiti the best I could. At one point in the week, I had another panic attack about Mama Jacky in Canaan. I didn't want to face that beautiful mother without a plan and a sponsor again. I didn't want to Canaan with promises again.

But, last Thursday, we went. All of Haiti Mama, all of World Clothes Line, and all of Ford road tripped to Canaan. At the end of their visit, and clothes distribution- I stepped in to talk to Mama Jacky about her Haiti Mama plan. I had this ache in my stomach knowing I had spent $500 to fly to Haiti, knowing what it could have done for her. I hated my Social Worker self for not using our funds differently at the moment. Repeating the words once again: Wait for me. She repeated the words once again: I have confidence in you, because you have confidence in God.

Mallory asked me to talk outside of the shack in the middle of clothes hanging on line.
She offered to fundraise $5000 to move their family out of Canaan, set them up with everything they need to live, and help Mama Jacky start a business.
$5000.
That's more than I would have ever asked for. That's more than I would have ever been able to get. But- that's exactly how much they need to fully stabilize.

Today, Mama Jacky and four children are moving to Delmas 60.
My Social Workers went out a negotiated the big stuff like beds and stove and have already moved it in. They are being provided with food for a year. And we will start employment planning and counseling immediately.

God saved this family. I am in awe and gladness.

reconsider the orphanage system, PART II

I am mama. I have a mama. I run an organization called Haiti Mama.

The day my social workers and I found our ten dirty, hungry and homeless boys- I posted a photo of J Mac on Facebook, stating his mother was dead. J Mac told me his mother was dead. He thought I was starting an orphanage. My social workers later taught me that street kids tell foreigners their moms are dead because they are trying to get into orphanages. (It's also the quickest way to get that dolla)

J Mac's mama wasn't dead. She was homeless and too broke to feed him.

RECONSIDER THE ORPHANAGE SYSTEM: Part II

That day was surely the moment people start an orphanage.
I am not judging. It seems like the right thing to do. Get these kids off the streets, feed them, love them... those poor babies. I get it. It's a moment when you know you have to do something. Those boys expected me to start an orphanage- because that's what happens here. The even lied about their mamas in hopes of meeting criteria to get help. 

In June 2014, I rode in a car with two American women that volunteer at well-established, wealthy orphanage. I had just arrived in Haiti, and I will never forget the comment made about the parents of the children in their poshe orphanage:

"The parents come to our door begging us to give them money to feed their families. If they can't get a job and do it themselves, that's not our problem. We're not here to take care of parents."

But... they take the child from the parents and put it up for American adoption.  

FACT: Mama's are going to accept ANYTHING we offer when their children are starving.
FACT: Mama's don't understand the detrimental effects of the orphanage system. They think you know what's best for their baby- because you are white and educated.

Case example: 

A mom is completely broke and her son is starving. She comes to you and begs you to help feed her child. You roll your eyes at her but take her son and raise him locked behind a gate his entire life. He never sees his family again.

When all we offer is an orphanage: 

1. We teach mom because she is poor, she lacks the skills to be a mother. 

2. We teach mom to give up instead of empowering her to provide.

3. Mother suffers the loss of a child. She experiences depression, trauma and apathy.

4. We teach mom she is replaceable, and her connection to her child is worthless

5. Mother believes she has nothing to teach and her children, loses self esteem and self-worth.

6. Mother is left hungry. 

Most importantly, the six things listed above breed macro level problems, because culturally Haiti is losing "mama." Can you image a world without your mama? 

Deja, one of the ten boys we found on the street that day, reunited with his mama.

www.haitimama.org

reconsider the orphanage system, PART I

Because I'm a social worker, my view of Haiti is through a very specific lens. I was taught to examine all problems as a part of a system. Micro, macro and mezzo systems. Macro is my favorite system to examine, and that is why I love working in Haiti, because the macro system is the craziest part of all. There isn't a macro system- there is a macro mess.

Today marks the 5th year anniversary of Haiti's earthquake. I wasn't in Haiti then. I just recently got here, but I've climbed through rubble that remains, and I serve families still living in tent cities. I have been to many of the organizations, orphanages and government facilities that work to aid Haitians through their continued plight.

A systemic change I would like to see in Haiti is the development of an alternative to orphanage care. That's what we are working on. That's what our blood, sweat and tears are going toward...

RECONSIDER THE ORPHANAGE MODEL. Part 1

My Social Workers and I went to 23 orphanages in 2014. By the 23rd orphanage, they were angry, worried, confused and begging me for an alternative solution. My social workers are educated Haitian men with the passion and skills to bring change. My first experiences with orphanages in Haiti, were also their first experiences and it was much harder on them than it was on me. I learned quickly that the first trip to a "bad orphanage" mandated a long one on one meeting with me to process.

And what they were all saying during these meetings was: "All those kids have families. They are not better off there. Is there someone we can call to stop this? Why is my country letting this happen?"

What constitutes a bad orphanage? children are hungry, children are malnourished. children uneducated, disabled children are neglected and dying, children are abused sexually and physically, children sleeping on floors, children institutionalized from their families and communities due to parental poverty.

These orphanages are rampant, and you shouldn't try to save them with American money- it's not going to work.
I train, supervise and teach social work to Haitians. In return- they train and teach me Haiti.
My social workers know their country better than any of us ever could.
And my social workers hate your orphanages. Systemically speaking.
Here's what they've taught me:
The ONLY resource Haitians have is: FAMILY. That's all, folks. If you ain't got your family, your screwed. So, what do you expect to come of all these kids that grew up locked behind a gate if we don't maintain their connections to their families?

Family and community are what makes HUMANITY.
Using orphanages as a system to aid and solve poverty literally sucks for humanity.

Case example:
A mom is completely broke and her son is starving. She comes to you and begs you to help feed her child. You roll your eyes at her but take her son and raise him locked behind a gate his entire life. He never sees his family again. He develops his personality based on dependency and institutionalization. He learns affection is random white people who come through to hug him 4 times a year and bring him candy, clothes, balls and shoes. Then when he turns 18- the gates are opened to the ridiculously crazy streets of his country that he doesn't understand or have skills to thrive in. And once again, the only people who would have helped him in this situation: his family... are long gone. Because we rolled our eyes at the mom and took her sweet little brown eyed boy all for ourselves.

This is creating macro level problems.

The thing that haunts me and my social workers the most are the amount of orphanages functioning in Haiti. We got some very rough estimates.

In August of 2014, I met with the director of Food for the Poor, and in exchange for trained social workers I asked her to give me one number: "How many orphanages are there in Haiti?"

She looked surprised by my audacity, put on a poker face and said: "There are 250 licensed orphanages in Haiti. I will let you draw your own conclusions on how many are unlicensed. I will let you come up with your own total."

By that day I had toured 18 orphanages, six were licensed. After that day, we made it to five more, one of which was licensed.

So my small sample equation: 7/23=250/x
Are there 821 orphanages in Haiti? I would NOT be surprised. They. Are. Everywhere.

The most important number to leave you with as you begin to reconsider using orphanages to help the poor of Haiti is this: Between 70-90% of the children living in orphanages HAVE FAMILY LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY.
The children being adopted- HAVE FAMILY LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY.

That's Part 1.