Grantee: HACSO Community Center

In 1974, the Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization was created to address the needs of a large wave of Haitian immigrants settling in Rockland County, New York. Thirty-five years later, HACSO Community Center, Inc. has grown into a multi-service, grassroots community organization that provides assistance to a broad range of immigrants working toward self-sufficiency. By reducing the cultural, language, and economic barriers that block immigrants’ access to existing resources and programs, HACSO enables them to become active contributors to the economic, social, and cultural development of the community.

One challenge to the stability of low-income immigrant communities is the lack of access to high-quality healthcare services. In 2004, the Rockland County Public Health Priorities Committee conducted a Community Health Assessment survey for the years 2005-2010. The survey confirmed that a key issue affecting healthcare for immigrants was access, due to a lack of language interpreters in private physicians’ offices and public health clinics. Additional issues, according to community organizers, include few providers accepting uninsured or Medicaid-insured patients and a reluctance to utilize public benefits due to fear and mistrust of government services, believing they could lead to deportation. These issues have left immigrants vulnerable to preventable and treatable diseases and conditions.

“At HACSO, we are committed to ensuring that immigrants get access to existing programs in the county, including quality healthcare services and resources,” said Executive Director Rose Leandre. “It is a community responsibility to treat our immigrants fairly; they are our neighbors.” HACSO’s success is based on sound collaborations with state, federal, and local government agencies; community and faith-based organizations; healthcare organizations; and community and business leaders. These partnerships promote access to culturally sensitive programs that provide bilingual outreach and referral to HIV/AIDS services, low-cost housing programs, first-time homebuyer initiatives, workforce training, employment resources, and other community-building services for immigrants and low-income families in the Rockland County area.

"The Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization helps the marginalized Haitian community and other immigrants in Rockland County gain access to life saving assistance such as food, government benefits, and healthcare," added Mary Haviland, Esq., Director of Grants and Public Policy at the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, "and its Komen-funded, Phenomenal Women (Fanm Vayan se nou) Project provides linguistically and culturally appropriate breast health education and referrals to breast cancer screening programs."

HACSO identified breast cancer care and prevention for women—often the primary caregivers in immigrant families—as a major health concern affecting Haitian immigrants. Like low-income African-American women, Haitian immigrant women are among the least likely to receive early breast cancer screenings. If diagnosed, it is often in the later stages of the disease, significantly increasing their mortality rates. Since 2005, HACSO has received funding from the Komen Greater NYC Community Breast Health Screening, Treatment & Education Program (STEP) for a breast cancer project working in conjunction with the Rockland Breast Health Partnership to provide outreach, education, case management, and service coordination to undocumented, uninsured, underinsured, immigrant, and low-income women. The goal of the program is to reduce obstacles and ensure that this population of women is able to navigate the existing breast health services in the county.

HACSO works with the Breast Health Partnership staff to schedule mammogram appointments, provide transportation, and accompany women to their appointments to translate and offer support as needed during evaluations. If they are diagnosed with cancer, or if more extensive screening is needed, the program assists in referring patients to area hospitals and acquiring Medicaid or other health insurance. HACSO also partners with other service agencies to help women with accessing emergency housing assistance, food stamps, childcare, and other public benefits as needed during recovery.

As early detection is key to cancer survival, one-on-one and community education are offered to increase awareness about breast health and encourage women to take advantage of existing services. Traditionally, Haitian women do not conduct regular breast self-examination because education and prevention practices are not normally taught in Haitian culture. Because of the limitations in their native healthcare system, most Haitians are accustomed to only seeking a doctor when they feel ill. Therefore, the culturally specific education programs HACSO developed focus on creating positive health habits and addressing the underlying cultural barriers to receiving care. Over four hundred women have been referred to the local community screening sites around the county, resulting in seven breast cancer diagnoses, all of which have since gone into remission. 

To learn more about HACSO Community Center, please contact:
HACSO Community Center Inc.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 477
Spring Valley, NY 10977

Physical Address:
25 South Main Street, Suite 2A
Spring Valley, NY 10977

Phone: 845-352-5897
Fax: 845-352-5939
hacsocc@optonline.net
www.hacso.org

Philanthropy New York Members that Support HACSO Community Center:
HSBC Bank USA
The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Target Foundation