Although most families in Haiti require both parents’ income to survive, reliable child care for young children is unavailable for the vast majority of Haitians, and parents often have no choice but to place their children in orphanages so that they can work. Haitian Families First aims to change that by providing safe and loving care for children under three while their parents are working. Partnering with orphanages as well as local businesses and government agencies, we’ll work to identify parents whose young children need care.

Parents will be charged according to their income level, and children in care will receive three meals per day. The child’s day will be structured around fun, age-appropriate activities that will help develop motor, cognitive, and social skills. A nurse will be on staff to attend to children’s medical needs, and we will also have access to services at the Hospital Bernard Mevs should they be necessary. So that each and every child receives loving personal attention from an adult throughout the day, there will be only three children per caregiver.