ABOUT US
Access and excellence remain at the core of our mission at Diaspora Community Services. For over 20 years we have served a diverse community by providing a variety of essential health and supportive services. From anti-tobacco campaigns, to TB screenings and our Infant Mortality reduction initiative, Diaspora Community Services is committed to helping our clients lead lives of good health and wellness.
Our professional, diverse, multi-lingual staff, speaking French, Creole and Spanish, offers a range of comprehensive services including advocacy, crisis intervention, counseling, education and translation. We advocate and meet the needs of men and women, children, adolescents and families from all Brooklyn communities.
Hablamos Español -- Nou Pale Kreyol -- On parle le français
Mission
Diaspora Community Services is a social support service agency that empowers families and individuals to maximize their abilities to succeed through culturally sensitive health promotion, family support services and advocacy.
Vision
To maintain the highest standards of expertise in the provision of culturally sensitive health information.
History
What was once a small organization serving Haitian women in Brooklyn is now an international organization fighting AIDS, standing up for immigrants, providing health care and homes for the low-income, free legal services to those who have been treated unjustly and so much more.
In July 2007, Diaspora opened a site in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, called Centre Medico Social Nord Alexis. It is the result of over two years of planning, research and process. We are pleased to provide educational, health and medical services as well as an opportunity to promote quality services in a poverty stricken area of Haiti. (Brochure)
Chronology
1981: The Haitian Women’s Program (“HWP”) is formed in response to the wave of refugees fleeing their homeland. HWP’s mission is to empower Haitian immigrants and help them adapt to life in the U.S.
1988: HWP develops a half hour film in Creole with English subtitles entitled: Set Met Ko. The film was selected by the World Health Organization to be distributed worldwide.
HWP expands it’s target population to include to include the entire population; persons of any race, sex, culture, etc. that are in need of their services.
1991: HWP becomes independent as an incorporated program, receiving its 501c (3) status as a non-profit organization.
1993: HWP is one of the pioneering agencies to respond to the refugee crisis caused by the flow of immigrants from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
2002: HWP implements the Health Education Leadership Program to promote leadership roles and expose minority youth to various health careers.
2004: DCS adds the Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP) which ensures that women have access to the educational, basic skills and resources that foster self-sufficiency and productivity. WEP is operated out of their new Caledonian Health Center location.
2005: The Haitian Women’s Program officially changes their name to Diaspora Community Services (DCS) to reflect the growing population it serves.
2006: Diaspora adds 3 new programs: Older Adults, Community Based Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Supportive Services Family Stabilization.
2007: Diaspora adds the Haitian American Empowerment Project.
Diaspora adds the Healthy Families New York program, Maternal Group Homes and opens the Centre Medico Social Nord Alexis in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
