The Center for Haitian Studies (CHS) is a duly registered non-profit, tax-exempt health and social service organization founded in 1988 for the purpose of serving the disenfranchised populations of Little Haiti/Little River in Miami, Florida... Read more...
Health Services
CHS provides urgently needed, culturally competent primary care services designed to decrease the growing number of Little Haiti residents who may delay seeking health care, resulting in the worsening of treatable conditions or resort to emergency rooms... Read more
Health Fairs
CHS, in collaboration with the Department of Community Service (DOCS) of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine conducts an annual health fair on the grounds of CHS. This health fair attracts between 300 and 500 members of the community... Read more
Medical Education
CHS, in collaboration, with its academic affiliates, offers an excellent opportunity to local, national and international medical students, medical residents, student nurses, student medical assistant and nurse practitioner students to obtain culturally competent educational experience... Read more
Pediatric Mobile Clinic
Established in 1992 as a response to hurricane Andrew, the UMPMC has provided medical care to uninsured children in need for nearly two decades. Services provided include well-visits, sports physicals, immunizations, management of chronic conditions, urgent care, mental health, and social work... Read more
Call (305) 757-9555
To schedule a visit. Services are provided Monday through Friday - 9 a.m to 5 p.m.
Health
Services
Haitian immigrants, for the most part, come from areas of Haiti where health care is a luxury that is afforded to a few, rather than a right available to the majority of citizens. Immigration to the U.S, however, does not eliminate health care access barriers,...
A significant number of low-income women living in Miami’s Little Haiti/Little River area are unemployed and uninsured. The CHS OB/GYN Clinic is the only free community clinic they can access for basic gynecological and obstetrical care...
(CHS), in collaboration, with its academic affiliates, offers an excellent opportunity to local, national and international medical students, medical residents, student nurses, student medical assistant and nurse practitioner students ...
The Center for Haitian Studies, Health, and Human Services, Inc. (CHS)
The Center for Haitian Studies (CHS) is a duly registered non-profit, tax-exempt health and social service organization founded in 1988 for the purpose of serving the disenfranchised populations of Little Haiti/Little River in Miami, Florida.
In keeping with its mission, CHS provides a wide range of services to members of the population including health education, health services free of charge to indigents, psychosocial counseling, case management, home-delivered meals, food bank, direct financial assistance and transportation.
Other services provided by the Center for Haitian Studies to the general population include crime prevention, literacy, case management, cultural adaptation and counseling services for new immigrants who arrived in Florida after 1994.
Over the past seventeen year, CHS has received more than twenty million dollars in grants from various federal, state and local entities such as the Centers for Disease Control, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Community Development Block Grant, ...Read more
CHS, in collaboration with the Department of Community Service (DOCS) of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, CHS organizes an annual health fair as well as a weekly night clinic are coordinated by medical students from the UMMSOM. The Health Fair attracts between 300 and 500 members of the community who, for the most part, have no other means of receiving specialized health care services from the best specialists in South Florida.
CHS community health workers also take part in health fairs across South Florida. During these health fairs, CHS staff members distribute educational materials, make presentations, and refers patients for services. For information about the next health fair, please contact us at 305-757-9555.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays (reserved for board meetings and a number of special events which take place throughout the year)
The Center for Haitian Studies, Health & Human Services, Inc. (CHS), in collaboration, with its academic affiliates, offers an excellent opportunity to local, national and international medical students, medical residents, student nurses, student medical assistants and nurse practitioner students to obtain culturally competent educational experiences.
CHS’s Academic Affiliates include The Jackson Health System (JHS), The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSOM), Florida International University (FIU), North Shore Medical Center (NSMC), Broward Health Medical Center (BHMC), St. George University Medical School (SGU), the Borinquen Health Care Center (BHCC), the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) and the Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de l’Université d’Etat d’Haiti.
With replicas of the Haitian flag proudly on display, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine paid tribute to one of its leading partners in Miami-Dade County’s Haitian community.
The flags flew in honor of Haitian Flag Day, but the guests who came to the Mailman Center for Child Development May 21 were there for a breakfast to recognize the generosity of the Center for Haitian Studies, and Executive Director Dr. Laurinus Pierre, in support of the University of Miami Pediatric Mobile Clinic.
The Center for Haitian Studies recently made a generous, multi-year commitment to provide funding for programs to benefit the children and families of the Little Haiti community.
“I’m here to celebrate our relationship with the Haitian community of Miami,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Miller School, and CEO of the University of Miami Health System. “This is an amazing community that has provided extraordinary expertise and talent for years. Among such talent and expertise in health care is our partnership with the Center for Haitian Studies. It is just an amazing example of how a community can get organized and work with an academic medical center to provide health care and education.”
The Pediatric Mobile Clinic, which is a part of the Miller School’s Department of Pediatrics, provides medical care for uninsured children in at-risk neighborhoods. Twice a week, the Center for Haitian Studies provides a central location for the mobile clinic, so families can access their services. Staff members also play a key role helping to communicate and coordinate with patients.
Laurinus Pierre, M.D., M.P.H., executive director of the Center for Haitian Studies, said the center was born out of a grant from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and continues to be a strong partnership that benefits many people in need.
“The community needs every one of us. The community needs you. It is not something one person can do,” said Pierre, who earned his Master of Public Health degree at UM.
A 47-foot bus, the traveling clinic is fully equipped with three exam rooms, a laboratory/treatment area and a pharmacy. Each year, the mobile clinic provides thousands of vaccines, physicals and other types of primary medical care for children who would have trouble accessing health care any other way.
“Even in the era of the Affordable Care Act, this work must continue, as many of our families cannot access even government-subsidized health care,” said Judy Schaechter, M.D., interim Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “The Pediatric Mobile Clinic brings quality care to families in their neighborhoods, in their language, with compassion and sensitivity to their needs.”
Created in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Pediatric Mobile Clinic is run by Director Lisa Gwynn, D.O., assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, and her team.
Gwynn says the mobile clinic offers services that go well beyond annual physicals, extending into more specialized care when needed. She told the story of a 15-year-old boy who arrived from Haiti after the 2010 earthquake with a mass on his face. His mother had suffered foot injuries and was traumatized by what she witnessed during the quake. Gwynn says the staff was able to find medical help for the teen, and for his mother to help her cope.
“A lot of what we do is happy well-visits, which we love in pediatrics,” said Gwynn. “But the other piece to this is we provide patients long-term, comprehensive care for those who have no other options.”
The Francois family also came to Miami after the devastating earthquake. Jean Francois said his 4-year-old son, Kevin, was suffering from several medical issues, including severe respiratory problems that worsened with time. With no money and no insurance, Francois was relieved when a friend told him about the Pediatric Mobile Clinic.
Through a translator, Francois said the team at the Pediatric Mobile Clinic helped to put his son on the road to recovery.
“With the grace of the center, I am able to receive total care for my son,” he said. “He has gotten medications, he is able to see the doctor and get referrals to other locations for continuing care.”
Established in 1992 as a response to hurricane Andrew, the UMPMC has provided medical care to uninsured children in need for nearly two decades. Services provided include well-visits, sports physicals, immunizations, management of chronic conditions, urgent care, mental health, and social work. Major activities include:
- Providing direct primary medical care for nearly 3,000 children a year who are without health insurance and access to medical providers...
CHS is featured on Miamigration, a website dedicated to showing the New Miami as defined through the immigrant experience.
The Center for Haitian Studies in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami aims to serve the city’s underserved Haitian immigrants population. The clinic not only provides health services free of charge, but also provides patients with a culturally sensitive atmosphere. The clinic will accept, respect, and take care of anyone who needs medical attention.
CHS offers a culturally competent clerkship in the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology for 3rd Year medical students from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UM)...
CHS, in collaboration with the Department of Community Service (DOCS) of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine conducts an annual health fair on the grounds of CHS. This health fair attracts between 300 and 500 members of the community who, for the most part, have no other means of receiving this type of specialized care from the best specialists in South Florida.... Read more
HIV/AIDS Testing, Counseling & Outreach
CHS conducts HIV Antibody testing as well as pre and post test counseling using ORASURE on a walk-in basis and by appointment with a certified counselor. This service is offered by CHS and is not funded by any private or government entity. Specimens are sent to the state of Florida, Miami-Dade … Read more
Health Education Radio Programming
Radio broadcasting is the principal medium by which to reach members of the Haitian population of South Florida. Under funding from the University of Miami Department of Family Medicine /Community Health (Area Health Education Center--(AHEC) and the Public Health Trust/Jackson Memorial Hospital... Read more
Academic Affiliations
CHS/GMHETC/Jackson Health System Medical Clerkships
The Center for Haitian Studies, Health & Human Services (CHS), in collaboration with The Jackson Health System (JHS) offers medical clerkships in various medical specialties and subspecialties. CHS offers these clinical rotations to medical students from international medical schools that meet the criteria for medical clerkships under the laws of the State of Florida and are certified by the State of Florida...
The Center for Haitian Studies/Greater Miami Health Education and Training Center (CHS/GMHETC) sponsors a 6-week program for 2nd Year medical students. This program is designed to introduce medical students to clinical medicine. The program offers an excellent opportunity for medical students to develop clinical skills and to learn about culturally competent approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases among patients from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The CHS OB/GYN Clinic is the only free community clinic they can access for basic gynecological and obstetrical care. Patients with abnormal pap smears and those who are diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer continue to have difficulty accessing the specialty services required for their care. CHS relies on its partnership with the Jackson Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine...
