What we do

Adult Education

NB4HS adult education programs target Haitians living in Rhode Island, comprising 95% of its program participant population.

This effort is significantly challenged by the language barrier that almost all Haitian immigrants must confront. Haitian-Creole is the primary language of Haitians, with some people also speaking French. English is not taught in Haitian schools.

This language issue is further exacerbated by a very low literacy rate amongst Haitians (Haiti has the lowest literacy rate in the Western Hemisphere at 60%).

The agency has tailored its program design to meet this challenge. Utilizing a dual-language approach, NB4HS is able to meet students where they are at and simultaneously address student language issues while making academic progress in preparation of gainful employment in an English-speaking work environment.

Health Promotion

The agency’s Health Promotion programs are prevention-based and designed to increase the community’s awareness of health issues and to ensure they have accurate information to inform decision-making. Topics include COVID-19 prevention and treatment; domestic violence, health system navigation, lifestyle changes and advocacy.

Advocacy

Nowhere is advocacy work more evident than at the core of NB4HS’s mission of building bridges. This important work allows NB4HS to give voice to the concerns, hopes, and frustrations of being Haitian in Rhode Island while supporting residents with translation and case management services. A primary goal of our advocacy is to raise awareness in the larger community to the unique challenges Haitians face as well as the contributions they make to the vitality of the State. Our advocacy work seeks to build collaborative relationships that can address the needs of our community and provide opportunities for better understanding, unity, and upward mobility.