Whole

CHILDREN,Whole HAITI

Inspiring stories of care, family, and advocacy for children in Haiti “Every child has a right to a family and a home. Investing in families and communities builds their resiliency and ability to stay together, and provides a safe environment for children. Our collective investment in care reform will improve early detection of protection risks and our ability to prevent the separation of children.”

Maria-Luisa Fornara UNICEF Haiti Representative

Cover photo: Hope Community Project Whole

CHILDREN,Whole Inspiring stories of care, family, and advocacy for HAITI children in Haiti

Contents

Welcome Introduction A Whole Haiti Organizations working for change A call to action Photo: Hope Community Project Welcome

In the years following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the number of in the country rapidly increased to over 750; 1 most of these unregistered and unreg- A commitment to family for ulated. This explosion of orphanages was so widespread that it rapidly exceeded the capacity of the government to track, monitor and reunify the 30,000 children every child in Haiti suddenly being raised in institutions instead of families. To this day, over 80% of the children living in Haitian orphanages have one or two living parents. 2

Sadly, out of a spirit of assistance, Americans played a large role in family separa- tion. The vast majority of orphanages in Haiti are supported by American donors, with at least $70 million annually funneled into the institutional care of children.3

We are coming into a new era. Through the intervention of many organizations, government champions and donors, the child care system in Haiti is undergoing a massive reform. Given the overwhelming evidence that children do best in families, a tremendous shift away from the model and towards family preserva- tion is happening.4 People and organizations who moved to Haiti expressly to open an orphanage are now forging a new path towards family-based care, and bringing their supporters on the journey with them. Donors are shifting their funds towards programs that support children holistically. The government of Haiti’s child welfare agency—the­ Institut du Bien Etre Social et des Recherches (IBESR)—along with UNICEF and organizations providing technical support are putting in place frame- works for better care practices, , a moratorium on new orphanages, and Kristi Gleason donor guidelines to invest in family-based care. Vice President of Global Programs Bethany Global Our goal is to celebrate the strength of the Haitian people, and to acknowledge the hard work that has been accomplished in care reform. We want to present to Amanda Cox readers a glimpse of the many impactful accomplishments of a handful of organi- Head of Programmes and Advocacy USA zations that are part of this movement in Haiti. This publication can in no way cover Hope and Homes for Children the full effort of all those involved across the wide span of programs working on behalf of family preservation. It is our hope that you as a reader will be inspired by a Dr. Delia Pop glimpse of case studies demonstrating what can be accomplished when dedicated Director of Programmes and Global Advocacy individuals and organizations work individually and collectively for change. Hope and Homes for Children

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 5 Photo: Terre des hommes Introduction

This publication is presented in three parts. Part 1 discusses how seeing Haitian This publication highlights eight children as part of a complex and beautiful social system can inform best practices in organizations working in Haiti, each child care reform. Part 2 highlights eight organizations working towards family-based with a mission to ensure children are care and the preservation of families and communities. Part 3 provides inspiration cared for in families. A robust network for collective action and transformation. of complementing organizations is active and essential to transformation. Child development happens within a social and ecological system.5 In the first Here we highlight a sample of the section, a Whole Haiti, we consider child protection from the individual (child), family, excellent organizations creating community, Haitian, and global levels and begin to discuss the complex interplay positive momentum of care reform in between these factors. To see Haiti as a whole, we must consider each level and the Haiti. importance of community and connection as the key factors in childhood develop- ment. Many organizations are providing services that support the whole child within Haiti Design Co this connected community context. Heartline Ministries Hope Community Project Organizations in Haiti working to keep families together are strengthening livelihoods Rapha House and food security; providing access to education; working to get children back into a Little Footprints, Big Steps safe home; training parents to be strong leaders; ensuring maternal and child health; Terre des hommes and creating a new story around child well-being and family-care in communities. Bethany Other organizations are working to heal the damage that has been done: reunite Lumos children with their families, create change in the child-protection and criminal-justice system, and support caregivers in being healthy and productive adults.

People, organizations, and donors do—and can continue to—work together with the government of Haiti to provide the very best care for children. Together we can lift up and support family-based care and work towards preventing family separation.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 7 Haiti is establishing itself as a leader in transformative change for children within Latin America and the Caribbean. The vision of a family for every child—and the actions being taken to ensure that families are strengthened and reunified—is due to the significant efforts and collaboration of government, donors, local communities and NGOs across many areas of society. This reform in action exemplifies how much can be accomplished when work together.

Dr. Delia Pop Hope and Homes for Children a Whole Haiti “Living in a family is better than any other place. My family is not rich, but I only want Whole to live with my family. Why? Because my family values ​​me, and each of us as a child.”

Children A reunited child, Lumos

Focusing on the whole child leads to outside the watchful gaze of a loving healthy, stable adults able to then care for home.7,8 Family-preservation efforts focus their own families. Thus increasing overall on creating full-time, year-round jobs for community stability for generations. adults and helping families grow and eat “A child separated from his good food, access quality medical care, family is like a body whose Children need education, shelter, and and afford meaningful education. food, they also need love, connection, and breath of life has been community. There is an overwhelming Child-protection efforts include cus- body of evidence that even the best resi- tomized services for children such as removed.” dential care—if it removes children from specialized education for disabled chil- their families or severs the connection dren, essential identification documents, Enel Andre to family and community—has a stark professional counseling, and supporting Child Protection Specialist, Sud, Haiti negative impact on children’s long-term friends and adults to help children heal outcomes.6 from the trauma they have experienced.9 Children sometimes need, and always Every child has needs that are best deserve, justice. Many organizations fight fulfilled by family. Foreign organizations for the rights of children through policies, should consider how they might balance government task forces and the Haitian the immediate needs of children while justice system. family, while a child receives counseling also contributing to long-term child and the family of origin receives training well-being. The reality is that some children do need to prepare to be reunited with the child. out-of-home care.10 In these instances, And if this is not possible, the foster fami- Family-preservation efforts keep children best practices necessitate approaches lies may adopt the children. in loving homes within their communities, that care for the whole child, such as providing the best environment for child foster care and other family-based care. Thanks to the efforts of IBESR and part- development. Stable families serve as ners, Haiti has foster care and domestic much more than providers—they serve Many organizations are supporting IBESR policies in place. IBESR is as protectors—as children are vulnera- in providing temporary care for children. working with partners to make foster care ble to abuse, particularly when they are Foster care provides a stable, loving and domestic adoption more available.

10 | Whole Children, Whole Haiti “We see family reunification as broader than bringing a child back to a home. Fathers are reintegrated into families Whole to stabilize them and lower the risk of child-protection violations. We want the families Families to experience life, affection, and food—all together.” Many organizations focus on the with their families, while encouraging mother or caregiver of the child. Preg- faithfulness and responsibility. Pastor Vijonet Demero nancy and childbirth is a risky time for Country Director for Bethany Haiti Haiti’s mothers as maternal mortality There are a handful of organizations in Haiti is relatively high.11 Maternity in Haiti providing full-time, year-round clinics throughout Haiti provide prena- jobs for Haitian men and women. tal care, promote breastfeeding, and The best of these organizations build foster a healthy bond between mother in leadership, finance, and savings and baby. When a mother dies in child- programming for their employees birth, or cannot breastfeed her child, so the families are at even less risk formula programs provide the nutri- of separation. Some of these organi- tional support needed to keep children zations realize that sustainable job with their families. Malnutrition clinics creation means focusing on making treat severe, acute malnutrition and products for Haitians that are other- keep children in their homes or quickly wise imported—like food, technology, reconnect infants with families once clothing and more. Other organizations they are stabilized. work with Haitian parents to increase the amount of healthy food they grow Children do not exist in a vacuum; they Fathers are also an integral part of and consume through farming cooper- live in complex family and community a family. A father’s positive involve- atives. systems. Focusing on children without ment in the household can lead to considering the family damages greater protection and provision for Focusing on the whole family builds normal family dynamics, robbing the family.12 A few organizations are strong families. Livelihoods, parenting parents of their role in their children’s working to encourage men to increase leadership, and positive parenting all lives. Addressing the needs of the their leadership and engagement in help stabilize a household. Knowledge entire family provides for children’s their families and communities. Some and skill in financial stability, savings, immediate needs and future needs at organizations are providing parenting health, and nutrition all help families the same time. leadership training and reuniting men raise up their own children.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 11 Whole Communities

Children live in families, and families This is challenging, not only at the live in communities. The reality is family level, but also if the family is that many communities in Haiti are not supported by the community. “Maintaining children in their vulnerable, having faced significant Given the high rates of stigma in Haiti, families and communities trauma from political unrest and communities are quick to reject a once- natural disasters. In these vulnerable separated child if there has not been must be the first step towards moments, communities have received adequate community sensitization. misinformation on the benefits of And yet, given enough support in the social balance in Haiti.” orphanages. reunification process, it can be a joyful occasion for a community when a child Enel Andre, Child Protection Specialist, Sud, Haiti Throughout Haiti, child-protection who is thought to have been lost is organizations are working to sensitize reunited with their family. communities to the realities of the damage of family separation; how to Organizations are working with see, intervene in and prevent violations communities to change the narrative Community-based services are key of child protection; and how to support around orphanages and restavek— to increasing community stability children and families as they heal children sent by their parents to work and family preservation. Many from separation and child protection in households in domestic service in organizations are supporting violations. Communities who once return for room and board—and to and building the capacity of thought orphanages were the only help them reconcile their dreams for Haitian schools, medical clinics, way they could feed and educate their their children with the harsh realities and churches to nurture their children are re-establishing trust and they were dealt. Professional trauma community. Local efforts within a unity with one another. care not only helps families restore community are the longest lasting themselves through the reunification and most contextually appropriate There is a growing effort to reunite process, but prevents future services for families.13 Supporting the thousands of children—living as separation by increasing awareness these efforts helps build the restavek, living on the streets or in and community cohesion.14 community structures needed to orphanages, or those in conflict with keep families together. the law—with their families of origin.

12 | Whole Children, Whole Haiti a Whole

“Families are unique and as such Haiti our aid needs to be unique. Our staff are trained and then given Decisions about a child’s life are best gies and motivations of Haitians; that the freedom to work alongside determined by the people who fully lean in and ask what Haitians want; understand the context in which a that create space for authentic Haitian families to find solutions that child lives. Ultimately only Haitians can leadership; and that prioritize Haitian work for everyone.” know what is best for their children, solutions, are the true servant-lead- and only Haitians can create a future ers Haiti welcomes to contribute to a Julie Brouwer for their children. Just as parents are strong future for its children. Co-director, Hope Community Project the leaders of their families, there are leaders in every community, and gov- Low-resource countries are often seen ernment provides leadership for the as low-capacity. This is rarely the case. country. Foreign organizations can play Seeing Haitians as full, capable humans a role in providing technical support is essential to working in right align- and collaboration, but leadership ment. Visitors are guests and must should be the role of Haitians. find ways to build Haitian resources without stripping Haitians of power or When well-intentioned visitors perceive dignity. a gap in child welfare, they sometimes step in prematurely.15 However, as Change is possible within the child-pro- outsiders, they are only able to see tection system of Haiti. IBESR—with a fraction of the issues at play—and the support of UNICEF, and multi- may simply not know the best ways ple international nongovernmental to protect Haitian children within organizations—has co-created a com- A good guest learns the laws and the this complex and rapidly changing prehensive strategy to transform child context; is diligent and courageous child-welfare system. welfare by 2030.16 The leadership, poli- in protecting children; registers with cies, and structures are ready. It is only the Haitian government; and ulti- The organizations making the greatest by registering with the government, mately steps aside so that Haitians long-lasting impact in Haiti are those following the laws of Haiti, and support- are the face and true decision makers that put Haitians first. Organizations ing the strategic plans of IBESR, that of child-protection and child-welfare that recognize the capacities, strate- sustainable impact can be achieved. efforts in their own country.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 13 Supporting Haitian LEADERS Little Footprints, Big Steps’ founder, “It is important to keep Haitian staff the Morgan Weinberg, lives her commit- front of everything that we do.” ment to putting Haitians first, as seen in her relationship with Enel. Enel is Luke Brouwer a former regional director of IBESR, now obtaining his Master of Social Hope Community Project Work degree in the United States. He is Morgan’s mentor, teaching her what he knows and guiding her work through Hope Community Project is an orga- cultural, psychosocial, and systems nization in Gonaive with education, knowledge and experience. Morgan’s health, and income generating pro- relationship with her mentor is a pow- gramming. Each of these programs erful example of how she puts Haitians is led by a Haitian; these leaders are first. front and center in interacting with the community and leading each program. Luke and Julie Brouwer provide teach- ing, coaching, and accountability to the “Haitians are the experts and leaders. As leaders—training these Haitian leaders how to track progress and results for we try to help them, we need to do so in a donors. Luke and Julie have learned to way that is sustainable, that keeps families give up control, hand over leadership, and reflect a partnership that is truly together and that’s culturally sensitive. This Haitian lead. means asking Haitians what they think are sustainable solutions for their communities and then providing them with the resources.”

Morgan Weinberg Little Footprints, Big Steps WholePhoto: Children, Hope Community Whole Haiti Project | 15 “True change in the way that we, as organizations, address the needs of vulnerable children in Haiti is only going to be possible if we work together. There are so many pieces of the puzzle when it comes to evaluating and responding to the needs of children and families, and it is only through collaboration that these issues can be addressed holistically and effectively. “

Heather Nozea Director of Client Services, Rapha House Organizations WORKING FOR CHANGE

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 17 Photo: Haiti Design Co “Haiti is full of creativity and imagination; I want everyone Preventing to know about the wonderful family products that are designed and Haiti separation made here in Haiti.” Design Co Franklin Sain Jean, Metalwork Haiti Design Co

Chandler Busby, CEO of Haiti Design Beyond employment, Haiti Design Co Co, started traveling to Haiti in 2010 teaches leadership skills. The company “Our idea of success at Haiti while studying retail merchandising and provides holistic training for employees Design Co is the advancement of fashion. She moved to Haiti in 2012 to on topics such as nutrition, budgeting, work with Heartline Ministries’ women’s and goal planning. A strong, incen- our people and their families. education center and sewing program. tivized savings program encourages Chandler became aware of the sharp employees to save and build resiliency Profit is not our end goal; our increase in economic orphans—parents against economic shocks. people are our end goal.” relinquishing children to orphanages for lack of resources. She wanted to In a context of high underemployment, it can be tempting to hire as many Chandler Busby, Founder Haiti Design Co create jobs to keep families together. WIth the blessing of Heartline, Chandler people as possible. However, Chandler and her husband, Josh, began Haiti is dedicated to preserving dignity in Design Co in 2014. Chandler is passion- employment and makes hires based ate about family preservation. on skills, not merely need. Haiti Design Co is successful in retaining employees Economic strengthening keeps Haiti Design Co is dedicated to creating year to year, encouraging employee families together. a professional environment to support savings, and supporting employees as their long-term goal of promoting Haiti they make progress towards their own Haiti Design Co is an artisan work- as a place for businesses investment. It personal goals. In this way, Haiti Design shop helping families stay together aims to create and sell excellent prod- Co has indirectly supported three through employment, training and ucts—not “sell poverty” by promoting hundred and twenty-four children, creating opportunities for personal their products based on the economic keeping their families together through growth. Driven by excellence in design status of their artisans. Haiti Design Co stable employment. and dignity in employment, it pro- focuses on designing and developing duces high-quality, ethically-sourced a sustainable business by focusing on leather goods, jewelry, handbags, and the wholesale market, fulfilling custom homewares while providing steady orders from high-end, custom-whole- employment for 151 artisans. sale clients.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 19 Photo: Heartline Ministries “Once you identify your Preventing direction, start small. Really family small. Get really amazing Heartline separation at it, then get bigger. Do not compromise quality for quantity.” Ministries

Tara Livesay, through humanitarian parole.17 This Heartline Maternity Center’s high-touch, Director, Heartline Maternity Center was a natural turning point and Heart- relational approach has resulted in low line repurposed their organization to maternal-mortality rates.19 They have become a maternity and education facilitated over 900 deliveries, and their center. zero maternal mortality rate includes even those high-risk births that are Healthy births keep families In a time of high maternal mortality, transferred to hospital for C-section.20 together. and low access to maternal healthcare, Only 1 child has been relinquished to Heartline Maternity Center has made a an orphanage. This small-scale, intimate Heartline Maternity Center is investing challenging commitment: quality must approach has positive impacts on family in Haitian families through relational be valued above quantity.18 Heart- preservation. maternal care and education. Ded- line accepts 30% of applicants for the icated to putting Haitians first, it maternal health program amounting Heartline just released The Starting Place: provides thorough, quality care to all to seventy-six women in the antenatal A Maternal Mortality–Prevention Initiative. patients. program at any given time and around Ready for global impact, this guide—and thirteen births per month. the accompanying training—provides Heartline Ministries began in 1990 as practitioners worldwide with comprehen- a creche—a small children’s home for Heartline’s program ensures that their sive instruction on recreating the kind international . After realizing mothers are full and equal participants in of care Heartline has provided. Whether many of children in the creche had their own care; with mothers committing through the The Starting Place or their lost their mothers in childbirth, Heart- to coming weekly for maternal education 900+ surviving and thriving mothers, line began offering prenatal visits as and check-ups from 8 weeks of preg- Heartline is providing results. a means to prevent orphans. Current nancy through 6 months postpartum. directors of Heartline, Troy and Tara The mothers deliver at Heartline and are Livesay, were drawn to the ministry’s encouraged to stay in the center for five “You are your neighbor’s plan to switch focus to job training days to begin caring for their infant under and maternal health and joined in the nurturing supervision of the center’s professor.” 2008. After the 2010 earthquake all the staff. children in the creche were adopted Haitian Proverb

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 21 Photo: Hope Community Project Preventing family Hope Community separation

“What does one have to do in order to continue receiving PROJECT sponsorship? Stay poor. But to receive a scholarship is to strive With a passion to preserve families, further reduce the potential for family Hope Community Project now provides separation, the clinic runs a formula for excellence.” education, healthcare, and livelihood program. With a high maternal-mor- programs in Gonaive. Lack of security tality rate, the high cost of formula is Luke Brouwer in these three areas is the main cause often a reason for relinquishing an Co-director, Hope Community Project of family separation in Haiti.22 infant. The formula program provides babies with formula through the first Hope Community Project has redefined year of life, regular checkups, and how families access education, provid- health care of their family. Strengthening community ing scholarships for children to attend keeps families together. the school of their choice. With schol- Hope Community Project is committed arships parents are engaged in their to establishing sustainable livelihoods After the earthquake of 2010 it was child’s education, children perform well with local solutions; such as investing common for orphanage intermedi- as attendance and progress in school in establishing a poultry cooperative. aries to link foreigners with Haitian are essential to maintaining the schol- The cooperative is owned and oper- pastors to build and support orphan- arship, and community is supported by ated entirely by Haitians from the local ages.21 After several years of helping pooling resources across schools. The community. Hope Community Project to manage from afar, Luke and Julie difference between a sponsorships and provides some initial investment, and Brouwer, directors of Hope Commu- a scholarship may seem like semantics, secures technical assistance from 23 nity Project, moved their family to Haiti but to Hope Community Project it is FIDA/pcH, a cooperative develop- in 2014. They immediately uncovered the difference between dependency ment organization. With a cycle of only many child-protection violations within and dignity. forty-five days from chick to sale, and the orphanage. Thankfully, the pres- grounded in a trusted partnership with Hope Community Project provides ident of Hope Community Project, FIDA/pcH, Hope Community Project access to local and affordable family John Keane, listened intently and gave see Haitian families thriving as produc- health services through the services of the Brouwers permission to change ers of their own livelihood. a Haitian doctor and Haitian nurses. To course.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 23 Photo: Terre des hommes “Foster care families accept Foster care children in critical situations that and family other care options do not want to Terre des reunification welcome, such as girl mothers, pregnant girls living with HIV, and children with disabilities.” hommes

Islande Georges Cadet, Tdh Given the rise in orphanages following seen as impossible in Haiti. And yet, the 2010 earthquake and evidence that Tdh has been successful in drawing a orphanage care does not lead to pos- firm distinction between restavek and itive long-term outcomes for children, foster care—outside versus inside the Tdh saw an opportunity to intervene by law— and now has successfully trained “To work outside of the state is to beginning a foster-care program. Tdh and helped register 112 foster-care believes that providing social safety families across six departments. work without guidelines.” nets is the role of the state, while the role of foreign assistance is to guide, Foster families are screened for their Tdh Staff support, and build capacity while ability to sustain and protect the chil- working within these national systems. dren in their care without subsidies or Tdh has worked together with IBESR, compensation. Nearly all children are the International Rescue Committee, eventually reunited with their biolog- the French Embassy, Handicap Inter- ical immediate or extended family, Strenghtening families, com- national, Delegation of the European according to the child’s best interests munities and the Haitian child Union, UNICEF, Bethany Global and and participation. TdH takes a commu- protection system. others to develop the national policies nity sensitization, family counseling, and procedures for placing children and intensive follow-up approach to Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading into foster care while ensuring inter- reunification. Working within the child Swiss organization for children’s aid. national standards are respected24 protection system of Haiti, Tdh is cre- Through their health, protection and resulting in the Dispositif de Placement ating sustainable services to support emergency relief programs, Tdh pro- en familles d’accueil. family-based alternative care options in vides assistance to over three million children’s own communities and when children and their families in more Currently over 286,000 children in possible reunite children with parents. than 45 countries each year. Terres Haiti are living as restavek.25 Given the des hommes Haiti works nationally on prevalence of this cultural practice the child protection systems strengthening internationally recognized practice of and has been essential in designing a foster care is often misunderstood, or foster-care system within Haiti.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 25 Photo: Bethany Global “Bethany does not like the Foster care orphanage model because and family orphanages lack parenting Bethany reunification leadership and often lack love and even basic care for children. Bethany believes children should Global be in families.” Like Tdh, Bethany has been instru- Bethany currently has thirty certified mental in cultivating foster care in foster families. The foster parents Pastor Vijonet Demero Haiti. Their family-based (foster care) receive educational and emotional Country Director for Bethany Haiti is seen as temporary, from one week support but not financial subsidies. to one year; the intention is for perma- Bethany believes strongly in the role nent placement through reunification of men in family preservation, reunifi- with the child’s first family of origin cation and family-based care. Fathers or kinship. When this is not possible, play a crucial role in the protection Bethany seeks to assist foster families and provision of families in Haiti, and with domestic adoption of the child. reuniting men with their families is also Loving and protecting children Domestic adoption exists in Haiti and a facet of Bethany’s work. through foster care. is ratified through IBESR.27 Bethany is working to encourage and build Bethany believes through scripture Bethany is an international faith- the capacity of IBESR to smooth and and scientific evidence that God’s based organization operating in ten hasten the process of domestic adop- design for children is to be raised countries; it has been working in Haiti tions. in family. Bethany has a refreshing since 2007. With over 75 years of capacity for partnership—able to foster experience developing best-practices Bethany equips local churches to relationships with faith-based and in child protection and welfare in the become hubs of foster care—providing secular organizations, the state, and United States, Bethany focuses their community sensitization and foster the local church. Grounded in faith, work on the following Continuum of parent training within church bodies. expressed through best-practices, and Care:26 family or origin, kinship care, Working within the system, Bethany surrounded by partners, Bethany is domestic adoption, long-term foster partners with IBESR to certify families inspiring the Haitian church to rise up care, inter-country adoption, emanci- for foster care and to identify children and care for their children. pation, temporary care. In Haiti, their in need of placement. Most of these focus is on family preservation and children have come from orphanages empowerment, foster care linked to closed by IBESR and are in need of family reunification, and domestic and temporary care while their families of international adoption. origin are traced.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 27 Photo: Rapha House “I am most proud of seeing Shelter families reunited. Sometimes we care and track down a family that hasn’t reunification seen or heard from their child in Rapha years and assumed she was dead. It House is an emotional day for them to find out that their daughter is alive. The Rapha House Haiti directors, Gerson—a trauma these girls have experienced— whole community celebrates when Haitian national—and Heather Nozea, and excellence with which Rapha had 12 years of experience working in House operates—providing high-quality she is brought back home.” Haitian orphanages and community services means the staff-to-child ratio development organizations before is sustained at more than 1:1, over a Gerson Nozea joining Rapha House in 2013. They had period of care that averages one to two Haitian Director, Rapha House seen first-hand the abuses and exploita- years. tion that exist within the orphanage system in Haiti, and the way that children Reunification is a key aim of Rapha were so often separated from their fam- House’s work. This includes tracing the Nurturing, protecting, and ilies for economic reasons. Gerson and family of each girl in their care, providing healing child victims. Heather were attracted to Rapha House counseling for the family once identified, for its commitment to best-practices in community sensitization to prepare for Rapha House is a faith-based anti-traf- child-welfare. the child’s return, and support for the ficking organization started in Cambodia, child, family and community following and operating in Thailand and Haiti. Rapha House provides professional reunification. Eventually the child is Rapha House Haiti provides shelter counseling, safe housing, and high reintegrated full-time with their family care for girls eighteen and under who quality education for children as they of origin or immediate kin. Every child, are victims of trafficking and/or sexual wait to be reunited with their families of family and community then receives exploitation. origin and excellent follow-up care for continued follow-up services. those reunited. Rapha House engages In Haiti, one in four children do not live in advocacy work with an emphasis on Rapha House is combining excellent, with their biological parents.28 These chil- prevention and early identification of comprehensive small-scale safe housing dren are at high risk for child-protection victims. with advocacy and prevention initiatives violations, abuse, and trafficking. Rapha to tackle human trafficking in Haiti. House Haiti began working with children The in-house shelter care includes living as restavek in 2013. Its work has individualized counseling and education evolved and has an increasing focus on services, food, shelter, and a safe space children coming out of orphanages. where girls can be girls. Given the level of

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 29 Photo: Little Footprints, Big Steps “Deinstitutionalization must be Shelter part of a great social movement Little footprints, care and that will change Haitian social reunification conception of the well-being of the children. The vast majority of parents who place their children big steps in institutions do so blindly in a age 18 in 2010. After discovering that This includes LFBS working hand-in- perspective of well-being. The 73 of the 75 children in the orphanage hand in IBESR, providing transportation had families, she reunited some of the for IBESR social workers, building IBESR more parents and community children with their families. Morgan capacity, and ensuring IBESR is always relocated to Les Cayes to be near and approving of child placement. know, the fewer children will be provide support to the reunited fami- institutionalized.” lies. LFBS also partners with Brigade de Protection des Mineurs for issues of Enel Andre Now, LFBS is a comprehensive child rights violations; Centre de For- Child Protection Specialist, Haiti child-protection agency. Safe houses mation et de Recherches en Appuis provide temporary shelter for street Psychosocial for counseling support; children, children who are victims Haven for income generating activi- Working with communities and of sexual violence, formerly living as ties with parents; Ministry of Women’s local government to advocate restavek, and formerly living in orphan- Rights for prevention of gender-based for children. ages. LFBS traces and connects children violence; Lumos for deinstitutionaliza- to their families of origin, or, if needed tion and reunification processes; Terre Little Footprints, Big Steps (LFBS) is an foster-care. Advocacy efforts include de hommes for foster-care placements; organization focused on protecting community training to prevent aban- and Haiti Air Ambulance, St. Damiens, vulnerable children in Haiti. Based in donment, violence against children Bernard Mevs, and Medecins Sans Fron- Les Cayes, their work focuses on reuni- and restavek. Advocacy work supports tieres for medical support of children. fication of children, child well-being, victims in seeking legal justice, provid- family and community development, ing children with birth certificates, and LFBS is also involved in the child-pro- and advocacy for women and child working closely with IBESR on the dein- tection cluster of the south which is rights. LFBS’ reunification standards and stitutionalization of orphanages. coordinated by IBESR and includes collaborative spirit is transforming child UNICEF and other organizations welfare in the south. LFBS is dedicated to creating collabora- working towards child protection in the tive relationships with local and national region. It is through these partnerships LFBS director, Morgan Weinberg, began government to cultivate a culture of pre- that child protection in the south is volunteering at an orphanage in Haiti at vention of child-protection violations. evolving.

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 31 Photo: Lumos “We are living our work. It takes System a lot of emotional resources and strengthening patience. But it is good work. We are acting to put smiles on Lumos the faces of the desperate; we are giving a voice to uncounted people.” developing models of care and pro- should be allocated to family preser- viding technical support to a range vation of those reunited families and Eugene Jr Guillaume of partners in government including additional services to prevent new Senior Country Manager, Lumos Haiti IBESR, the Office for the Protection of orphans. Citizen, The Anti-Trafficking Commit- tee, and the Brigade for Protection of Lumos sees their role in child-protec- Minors. It brings critical knowledge and tion transformation in Haiti as four-fold skills to Haiti, and through their part- nership with IBESR, seeks to strengthen 1. Research and documentation to the government’s capacity for effective uncover Haiti’s invisible children deinstitutionalization. Lumos takes into and support change. account the close ties between traf- 2. Advocacy and policy change with Collective action for collective ficking and institutionalization in Haiti the Government of Haiti. impact. and works hand-in-hand with Haiti’s 3. Training and capacity building of National Committee Against Trafficking local policy makers and child-pro- Lumos is an international child-pro- and IBESR. Since 2016, it has assisted tection practitioners. tection organization that works with IBESR in closing eight orphanages and 4. Deinstitutionalization implemented government and other partners to reintegrated 75% of the children in alongside the government. transform the child-protection system; those institutions with their families of Lumos envisions a Haiti with no chil- supporting a safe shift away from insti- origin. tutions toward strengthening families dren living in institutions by 2030. It and communities. Established in 2005 Lumos commends IBESR’s morato- sees collective action as the only way to and operating in Haiti since January of rium which prohibits the opening of achieve such a large-scale vision in this 2015, Lumos is working to transform new institutions and recommends and short time. To end the institutionaliza- care services for vulnerable children follows IBESR’s 30/70 policy; suggesting tion of children, organizations must and families in Haiti by 2030. that 30% of funding could be allocated work in strategic harmony. Lumos to good residential care until children sees this as possible and the future of Lumos’ work in Haiti focuses on trans- can be reunited with families and 70% reform in Haiti. forming care through policy reform,

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 33 “We (Westerners) consciously or subconsciously seem to believe that the materially poor cannot raise children the way we do. After seventeen years of experience in Haiti, I can tell you those biases are untrue.”

Tara Livesay Director, Heartline Maternity Center A call to ACTioN

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 35 The power of COLLECTIVE ACTION Given the proximity to—and history strengths and niches of services. We all When we work in isolation, we end up with—the United States, Haiti is satu- have something to teach, and to learn. duplicating efforts, or working in oppo- rated with nonprofit organizations.29 sition to each other. We may begin to Unfortunately, the culture of develop- Faith-based organizations working deep think our way is the only way, and we ment work in Haiti has become one of in community have the ability to build reject the valuable insights and wisdom isolation, and sometimes even compe- trust and relationships with community of others. It takes curiosity, patience, tition. The organizations highlighted in leaders, parents, and families. They have commitment (love), and a lot of humility this case study are key exceptions—they the ability to transform Haiti at the com- to develop strong, healthy working rela- are working together, across regions munity level. tionships. When we all work together, and services, and despite differences to we can create collective impact—and transform child protection in Haiti. Those working in child protection know sustainably transform the lives of Haitian international best-practices about children. For a range of reasons, many foreign trauma, healing as well as the harsh organizations choose not to work in realities that Haiti’s children face. We close relationship with IBESR—or the need to listen with humility and receive government of Haiti in general. Working their message of transformation and in Haiti has many challenges. However, redemption. only in the presence of a true partner- ship with the Government of Haiti—and Those working to change policy and “A family for every Haitian in partnership with each other—can strengthen IBESR have patience and a sustainable and effective child protection strong vision for a realistic, achievable child can be a dream that become a reality. future for Haiti. They are building capac- comes true. We only have to ity, accompaniment, and planting seeds The lack of unity, engagement and com- of change. join our strength and work munication are barriers to a cohesive approach to care reform. However, we IBESR, the Haitian government, and hard to make it achievable.” must learn to work together, lifting one Haitian leaders, know the laws of Haiti, another up, and recognizing our unique the cultural context, and the resources Staff member available to bring about change. Lumos Haiti

36 | Whole Children, Whole Haiti The opportunity to TRANSFORM Many of us—whether board members, best practices in child protection—we donors, advocates, or organization can find ways to redeem our actions, “If what we are doing is not staff—have played a part in unnec- our financial donations, and our orga- essarily separating children from nizational mission. We can help build helpful and is harmful, we families. We have not paused to ask a thriving Haiti, even as we learn and have to change.” the hard questions, or to reflect on the partner with others. larger context. Often, we have simply John Keane believed what we were told. We did As they have come to understand the complex nature of child welfare Board President, Hope Community Project not learn the harsh realities of child protection. We may have taken action in Haiti and the negative impacts of without understanding deeply what it the orphanage industry, many brave meant in the context of Haiti, and in people have made bold decisions to “We have to educate the the context of child welfare. We have change their own actions and organiza- acted in good faith, but often with tional path. donors and the volunteers, unanticipated impacts. This is heart- breaking, and can be cloaked in shame, Boards of long-term residential care for all of your best intentions, anxiety, or defensiveness. facilities can choose to change, too. if you are giving money Donors to orphanages can choose to The organizations highlighted in this follow IBESR’s recommendation of 30% to orphanages, if you are case study—and many others—have support to quality residential care and roots in institutionalized care of chil- 70% support to family preservation volunteering in orphanages, dren. It is hard to admit that we have and family-based care. you are helping to drive bought into—and encouraged others to fund—a story that may not be Together, we can redeem our stories, trafficking in Haiti.” entirely true. encourage one another in humility and grace, and one day see a thriving Georgette Mulheir But by making a renewed commitment child-protection system in Haiti—a Chief Executive Officer, Lumos to the future of Haiti’s children—by loving family for every Haitian child. fully understanding and embracing the

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 37 Photo: Little Footprints, Big Steps Protecting children, Working The needTOGETHER for a robust foster care system of Haiti was evident fol- lowing the 2010 earthquake. IBESR, UNICEF, Terre des hommes, the International Rescue Committee, the French Embassy, Hand- icap International, Delegation of the European Union, Bethany Global and others together developed the national policies and TOGETHERIn March of 2019, IBESR, UNICEF, and Hope procedures for placing children into foster care while ensuring and Homes for Children (HHC) collaborated international standards are respected. This resulted in the Dis- to deliver a three-day workshop on care positif de Placement en familles d’accueil. reform in Port au Prince, Haiti.

Natural disasters often are followed by an increase in human IBESR Director, Madame Arielle Villedrouin, trafficking and other child protection violations. Immediately and Deputy Director, Diem Pierre, 60 repre- after hurricane Matthew ravished the south department of Haiti, sentatives from IBESR and other government IBESR, Lumos, and Little Footprints, Big Steps joined efforts to ministries, as well as representatives from visit every one of the 50 orphanages in the south department. 10 nongovernmental organizations spent They together rapidly assessed over 2,000 children ensuring that these three days together building on the children were not trafficked in the wake of the emergency. vision of a family for every child in Haiti. This successful collaboration was made possible due to the hard work of the government, donor and NGO partners who have spent “Deinstitutionalization is a silent the past several years building momentum, revolution in Haiti, it tackles many frameworks and relationships necessary for change. structural issues at the same time. It is an essential step towards the creation of a better Haiti for our children.”

Eugene Jr Guillaume Senior Country Manager, Lumos Haiti Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 39 References

1. “Funding Haitian Orphanages at the Cost of Children’s 8. United States Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity Rights.” (Lumos, 2017), 6. (US Government, 2012-2017) 2. “Orphanage Entrepreneurs: The Trafficking of Haiti’s Invisi- 9. Reaching for Home: Global Learning on Family Reintegration ble Children.” (Lumos, 2017), 7. in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries (Better Care Network, Save the Children, 2013) 3. Lumos, “Funding Haitian Orphanages,” 6. 10. Csaky, Corinna, Keeping Children Out of Harmful Institutions 4. van IJzendoorn, Marinus H. et al. “Children in Institutional (Save the Children, 2009) Care: Delayed Development and Resilience.” Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development vol. 76,4 11. WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank, and the United (2011): 8-30. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5834.2011.00626. 8-30. Nations Population Division, Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013. 32. 5. This is an application of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) used in public health. One discussion of this framework can 12. Amato, Paul R., and Fernando Rivera. “Paternal Involvement be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- and Children’s Behavior Problems.” Journal of Marriage and tion website. “The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Family 61, no. 2 (1999): 375-84. Prevention.” accessed on April 27th, 2019, https://www.cdc. 13. Wessells, M.G. “Bottom-up Approaches to Strengthening gov/violenceprevention/publichealthissue/social-ecologi- Child Protection Systems: Placing Children, Families, and calmodel.html Communities at the Center.” ( & Neglect, 2015), 6. Pryce, Julia M., et al, Aging Out of Care in Ethiopia: Challenges 8-21. and Implications Facing Orphans and Vulnerable Youth. 14. Wessells, M.G., 8-21. (Emerging Adulthood, vol. 4, no. 2, 2016), 119-130. 15. Lumos, “Funding Haitian Orphanages,” 18. 7. UN General Assembly, Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 16. “The beginning of the end for orphanage ‘care’ in Haiti,“ 2010) accessed on April 27th, 2019, https://www.wearelumos.org/ news-and-media/2015/06/15/beginning-end-orphanage- care-haiti/

40 | Whole Children, Whole Haiti 17. “Special Humanitarian Parole Program for Haitian Orphan 25. FAFO, Child Domestic Workers in Haiti 2014: Analytical Report, xii Fact Sheet” accessed on April 27th, 2019, https://www.uscis. 26. The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child gov/archive/archive-news/special-humanitarian-parole-pro- (articles 5, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, and 27) recognizes the gram-haitian-orphan-fact-sheet Last viewed 4/13/19 role of parents, and the State in caring for children. The 18. “Slashing Haiti’s maternal and infant death rates, one deliv- type of family-and community-based care that will be most ery at a time“ accessed on April 27th, 2019, https://www. appropriate will depend on the needs of the child, the soci- unfpa.org/news/slashing-haiti%E2%80%99s-maternal-and- ety’s traditional care practices, and the available resources. infant-death-rates-one-delivery-time https://bettercarenetwork.org/library/the-continuum-of-care 19. “Investment in midwifery can save millions of lives of 27. IBESR, et. al., Dispositif de Placement en Famille d’Accueil women and newborns“ accessed on April 27th, 2019, (2017), 13. https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/ 28. U.S. Department of State, 2018 Trafficking in Persons investment-midwifery/en/ Report. (June 2018), 213 20. Heartline refers approximately 15% of births to a hospital 29. Kristoff, Madeline and Liz Panarelli. Haiti: A Republic of for a C-section delivery. This is in alignment with interna- NGOs? (United States Institute of Peace, 2010), 1-3 tional standards. 21. Lumos, “Funding Haitian Orphanages,” 6, 14 22. Lumos, “Orphanage Entrepreneurs,” 7 23. FIDA/pcH is Foundation for International Development. Assistance productive cooperatives HAITI. More information can be found at http://www.fida-pch.org/ 24. UN General Assembly, Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2010)

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 41 “Orphanages have become a culturally acceptable solution to poverty issues, but what if even a portion of the resources that are currently poured into orphanages in Haiti were used instead for family strengthening and community development efforts? Imagine the impact that would have for thousands of children who, instead of being separated from their families and raised in institutions, would grow up within their homes and their communities because their families had been empowered to care for them.”

Gerson Nozea Haitian Director, Rapha House In Gratitude

First and foremost we would like to acknowledge the participation of Resources for change each organization and individual highlighted in this publication. Orga- nizations and staff members were not reimbursed in any way and donated many hours of their time to be interviewed in person in Haiti. Next a tremendous thank you to Picture Impact for partnering to Bethany Global provide technical writing, design and research. bethany.org/global An acknowledgement to all who are not included in detail in this publica- tion but who are an integral part of the momentum towards change in Better Care Network Haiti. These include government leadership and staff members who are undertaking critical work towards care reform in a very difficult environ- bettercarenetwork.org ment as well as donors and multilaterals who fund essential awareness raising activities, technical trainings and pilot projects. Changing the Way We Care And finally, no acknowledgement would be complete without recog- changingthewaywecare.org nizing the organizations large and small who work day in and day out with children, families and communities across Haiti. We wish we could Faith to Action Initiative include each and every one here. faithtoaction.org

Hope and Homes for Children hopeandhomes.org

Rethink Orphanages rethinkorphanages.org

Whole Children, Whole Haiti | 43