Publication Date

2013

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Child disaster victims-Mental health-Haiti-FonfreНСde, Child disaster victims-Mental health services-Haiti-FonfreНСde, Haiti Earthquake, Haiti, 2010, Earthquakes-Haiti-Psychological aspects, Capracare Haiti, Haiti, Mental health, Children, Earthquake, Disaster

Abstract

The Haitian earthquake of 2010 led to an influx of problems for an already struggling nation. The current study is an exploratory study on the mental health and behavioral needs of children and the supports currently in place in one rural Haitian community approximately 120 miles from Port au Prince. Thirteen adults who had caretaking roles within the community participated in in-depth interviews focused on the needs of children, supports offered and the culture of their community. Most participants pointed to a lack of basic needs being met as the culprit for children's struggles including acting out, sadness and difficulty concentrating. According to residents, services to address the needs of children are close to non-existent. Participants were able to identify some universal cultural and religious ideals that could be used to support sustainable services in the future. The hope is that the results of this study will be used in part to create a sustainable model for children's mental health within the Fonfrède community that is tailored to the needs of the people living there. While this study was focused on one specific community, many of the struggles impacting the children of Fonfrède are not unique as children across Haiti struggle with the task of growing up in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. If this is successful this model could be used to implement services in different parts of the world following traumatic events.

Language

English

Comments

iii, 83 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, 2013. Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-74)

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