Youth and Family Enrichment Services Inc. (YOFES/OAMEC) - HAITI Support & Information The dimensions of the suffering and loss caused by the earthquake in Haiti are staggering. The tasks of locating loved ones, burying the dead, and providing food, water, and medical care for the living are enormous and require the immediate participation of everyone. At the same time, the local Haitian community is in a state of shock. YOFES’ immediate focus is on supporting the children and families in our local community who have been affected by this disaster. Haitian families and children are at risk. Parents may be so overwhelmed that they cannot provide the emotional support and other kinds of help that their children in school need.

Youth and Family Enrichment Services Inc. (YOFES/OAMEC)
1234 Hyde Park Ave
Suite 104
Hyde Park, MA 02136
United States
ph: 617-364-0370
fax: (617) 364-0371
alt: (617) 447-6522
yofesyouth@yofes.org

HAITI Support & Information

The dimensions of the suffering and loss caused by the earthquake in Haiti are staggering. The tasks of locating loved ones, burying the dead, and providing food, water, and medical care for the living are enormous and require the immediate participation of everyone.

At the same time, the local Haitian community is in a state of shock. YOFES’ immediate focus is on supporting the children and families in our local community who have been affected by this disaster. Haitian families and children are at risk. Parents may be so overwhelmed that they cannot provide the emotional support and other kinds of help that their children in school need.

YOFES First Steps and Plans

In our efforts to support the community at this critical time and in the weeks and months to come, we discussed a number of possibilities:

Counseling services Provide referrals to skilled counseling and family location services
Support and Information for young people and families
1. Convene facilitated meetings at which young people can express feelings and receive information and support
2. Develop radio/cable TV programs as a way to make Haitian voices heard, to give people a chance to express their feelings, relate their experiences, ask questions, and get answers.
3. Social Networking. Set up Facebook or MySpace pages for youth to communicate and support each other
Reinforce existing YOFES programs
1. After-school programs. Add extra counselors to provide counseling and additional help with schoolwork.
2. Offer additional hours to children in our music program. While children are in their music lessons, YOFES staff and professionals will be available to meet with parents in group sessions.
Outreach & Collaboration
1. Reach out & collaborate with other organizations and faith communities in responding to the crisis. Provide information on the needs of local youth and families affected by the earthquake
2. Work with community partners. Collaborate with valued community partners like the New England Conservatory and the Lenny Zakim Foundation to offer programming and services.
Incorporate this cultural shock into YOFES programming and classes, e.g. by selecting musical pieces during 2010 and beyond that reflect appropriate themes, e.g., solemnity, loss, mourning, rebirth, hope, rebuilding, resiliency – and call attention to those themes in our classes and public performances
In local newspapers, issue public statements of solidarity and providing practical information

Help us address the urgent needs of families living here in the Boston area by making a contribution to YOFES

Donations can also be mailed to YOFES at

1234 Hyde Park Ave, Suite 104

Hyde Park, MA 02136

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Youth and Family Enrichment Services Inc. (YOFES/OAMEC)
1234 Hyde Park Ave
Suite 104
Hyde Park, MA 02136
United States
ph: 617-364-0370
fax: (617) 364-0371
alt: (617) 447-6522
yofesyouth@yofes.org