Haitian Asylee & Family Helped

with Multiple Resources

The Work of LSF's Integration Assistance Services

8 May 2008 - TW

Lutheran Services Florida Case Manager Mai Parker has been working with a 44-year-old Haitian asylee since early October of last year.  Although a complicated situation with many aspects and problems to solve, Ms. Parker has been diligent in bringing "Healing, Help and Hope" in concrete ways to this client and his family through the work of LSF's Integration Assistance Services.

A DETERIORATING SITUATION

The client (whose name is held in confidence because of the sensitive nature of his case) was granted political asylum in the United States as of April 6, 2005 after speaking out against his government.  He had been a former congressmen there, and his vocal protests brought assassination attempts on his life.  He felt that he had no choice but to flee from his country with his wife and family.

Although this client has a law degree from Haiti and speaks fluent English, "he has been working in the Fresh Market as a food preparer earning $9.81 per hour as the sole income earner for his family, which includes his wife and four children living at home," said Ms. Parker.  "Rent for their 3-bedroom, 2-bath house is $1,000 per month, and they do not receive any public assistance," she added.

In addition, the client shared with LSF that his wife has mental health issues and has previously been hospitalized without medical insurance, creating a number of unpaid medical bills.  Water and electric bills were also overdue at the time of his initial interview with Ms. Parker, and he had been unable to pay his car insurance, which was putting his drivers license in jeopardy.

"As Mai worked with the client, she learned that he would like to go back to school to study law in order to practice in this country," as was his profession in his home country, said Rosemarie Connor, LSF Supervisor for Integration Assistance Services.  "He asked Mai to help him get his degree translated into English," and Ms. Parker told him that she would refer him to LSF's Career Laddering Program, which helps refugees and asylees to find professional work in fields for which they were trained.

In the meantime, the client's electricity and water were turned off because of his inability to pay his bills. 

As a result, "The client told Mai that he was so stressed with all the responsibilities that he just wanted to leave his family and never come back," said Ms. Connor.

MUCH NEEDED HEALING, HELP AND HOPE

Realizing the critical nature of this client and his family, Ms. Parker immediately referred him to different providers in the Tampa Bay area who could give some relief. 

Hillsborough County Health and Social Services provided health care insurance for the client and his wife, and both were given speedy medical attention.  Health and Social Services also assisted the client with overdue bills and his unpaid rent.

Ms. Parker also referred the client to Metropolitan Ministries Food Pantry, which not only provided food for his family, but also a voucher for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.  Then Ms. Parker referred the client to Florida Department of Child and Family Services for food stamps, which provided $503 per month for food, and Medicaid for his four children.

The client's four children were then connected with the Youth and Family Program of Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services (GCJFS).

"GCJFS assists youth and family with adjustment in the new home country and school systems and provides educational support for homework, reading, math, etc.," explained Ms. Connor.  "They also bring together other refugee children for special events."

At Christmas, Ms. Parker delivered gifts to the family that were donated by coworkers at LSF's Central Services in Tampa," said Ms. Connor.  "She even gave gifts from her own family."

When Mai first met the client, there was no furniture in the living room, Ms. Connor added.  Now there is a couch, a coffee table, and chairs.

"The client’s wife feels a lot better," reported Ms. Parker to her supervisor, "and the family seems very happy."

Finally, Ms. Parker referred the client to the Career Laddering Program so that he could get back to his original profession as a lawyer.  As the new year dawned, he began attending English classes at the University of South Florida "for accent reduction," said Ms. Connor of Integration Assistance Services.  "This will help him continue his education" toward achieving his professional goal of practicing law in this country.

Supervisor Rosemarie Connor summarized the work that Integration Assistance Services had provided for this client and his family: 

"Mai asked the client if he still wanted to leave the family, and he stated that with all of the things that LSF had done for him, he is very happy and feels that he can now be successful."

As the USF school year comes to a close, it is apparent that achievement of this client's overall professional goals are still in process and will take some time to work out.  However much of the relief that helped him to get on this path toward success "was accomplished in less than two months," Ms. Connor stated proudly.

DEDICATION REWARDED

Rubis Castro, LSF Director for the Tampa Bay Region where Integration Assistance Services is located, also added her comments about Mai Parker's work.

"Mai Parker received in November 1997 the LSF Soaring award, which is the highest award an LSF employee can receive and which only a handful of LSF staff have received in over 25 years," Ms. Castro said. "Mai received the award for her dedication and commitment to her clients and in addition for her help to her co-workers beyond the call of duty."

Mai Parker has been an employee of Lutheran Services Florida for 15 years.
 

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