05 February 2010 | FXB Center at Harvard Assesses Situation in Haiti

In response to Haiti's earthquake devastation, FXB International's sister organization, the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, has taken an active role in making sure that the needs and interests of children are not overlooked in the response and recovery effort.

The FXB Center at Harvard sent the Haiti Child Protection Assessment Team to Haiti from January 24-31 to begin to assess the impact of the recent earthquake on Haitian children, with particular emphasis of inquiry on issues of child protection, child welfare and psycho-social as well as medical well-being for Haitian children.

The Assessment Team met with key stakeholders and leaders in governmental and non-governmental agencies to develop an understanding from their perspectives of how these issues are currently being addressed in Haiti and what their views might be regarding future plans and future needs. The Assessment Team will use this early information to inform the FXB Center's strategy for collaboration with research and policy entities in support of local efforts to protect and promote the basic rights and needs of earthquake-affected Haitian children during the emergency and recovery phases.

Based on the FXB Center's findings, FXB International is exploring means for supporting sustainable development efforts in Haiti using its unique FXB Village Networks model in cooperation with Harvard and other institutions.

More information about the FXB Center's Haiti Child Protection Assessment Team is available here.