This page is part of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Assistance Guide provided by New Jersey 2-1-1.
Information and Referral
Call 2-1-1 to learn about your local community resources. Each county has specific services set up for individuals and families affected by the recent flooding. An experienced call specialist can help you find the best service to meet your needs.
Emotional Support
During this time of sadness, fear and anxiety, there are many resources of emotional support available. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress or feeling overwhelmed by painful emotions related to the Haitian earthquake, experienced crisis counselors can be reached at New Jersey MentalHealthCares' Disaster Mental Health Helpline, toll free at (877) 294-HELP (4357). A TTY line is also available at (877) 294-4356.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network is a unique collaboration of academic and community-based service centers whose mission is to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children and their families across the United States. Combining knowledge of child development, expertise in the full range of child traumatic experiences, and attention to cultural perspectives, the NCTSN serves as a national resource for developing and disseminating evidence-based interventions, trauma-informed services, and public and professional education. Visit their Web site to access fact sheets pertaining to how best to assist children dealing with trauma and loss.
East Orange General Hospital Provides Crisis Intervention Services
For any crisis issues that need immediate response, consumers may go to East Orange General Hospital's Crisis Intervention Unit or call 973-266-4480.
Grief or Support Counseling is available at 240 Central Ave - 5th Floor in East Orange during the following times: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 from 4pm - 6pm; Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 10am - Noon. If these times are not convenient, consumers should feel free to call Vernestine Butler at 973-414-6827 and an appointment will be scheduled for a time that will work for the individual in need.
Links to printed materials on coping with crisis, for caregivers, teachers, and organizations follow. Please feel free to print and distribute these brochures and fact sheets, for you and your family, school, church, community or organization.
Coping with the Emotional Impact of Disasters - English (pdf), Repons Emosyonél A Katastwòf Haitian Creole Final.pdf - by the DHS/DMHS Disaster & Terrorism Branch
Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster (English pdf) (Creole pdf)
When Disaster Strikes... How to Donate or Volunteer Successfully! (pdf)
Caregivers: Guidelines for Children Who Have Lost a Loved One (pdf)
Teachers: Guidelines for Children Who Have Lost a Loved One (pdf)
Teachers: Talking to Children About the Earthquake (pdf)
Parents: Talking to Children About the Earthquake (pdf)
Parents: Tips on Media Coverage of the Earthquake (pdf)
Volunteers & Professional Responders: Tip Sheet on Haitian Culture (pdf)
Resources from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Haiti - Facts Important to Disaster Response and Recovery
Disaster-Related Deaths and Infection: Truth, Myth, or In-Between
Disaster-Related Death: Managing Concerns about the Dead or Missing
Disasters and Poverty: Natural Disasters Disproportionately Affect the World's Poor
Managing a Workplace or an Organization after a Disaster
Information on a Loved One in Haiti
The American Red Cross is directing people seeking to restore contact with Non-US Citizens in Haiti to the International Committee for the Red Cross Family Links Website.
The State Department has several resources for inquiring about the welfare and whereabouts of friends and family in Haiti:
To Ask For or Provide Information About U.S. Citizens in Haiti:
E-mail the Task Force at
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OR
From the U.S. or Canada, call 888-407-4747 (Other countries, call 202-501-4444)
For U.S. Citizens in Haiti Seeking Assistance or Reporting Their Status/Whereabouts:
E-mail the Embassy at
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OR
Call the Embassy's Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672
When contacting any of the numbers or using the emails above, please include the following information:
- The full name, date of birth and passport information (if known) of the persons in Haiti you are trying to contact.
- Their contact information in Haiti; telephone numbers, e-mail address, hotel name or address (if known)
- Your name and contact information, and your relationship to the person in Haiti (parent, spouse, friend etc.)
- Any special or emergency circumstances.
For All Nationalities and Locations: The U.S. State Department has launched a new tool called "Person Finder," to enable people to find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti. The tool can be found here. In addition to helping people find their loved ones, this tool will make the data accessible to other governments and private organizations in an easily manageable and accessible format.
For more information about locating friends and family members, visit the State Department's Haiti Earthquake Web site.
Announcements in Creole from the US Embassy in Haiti
Public Service Announcements (in Creole)
For Haitian Residents Currently in NJ
"Temporary Protected Status" Information for Haitian's Living in the U.S.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. This is a historic disaster, and TPS will allow eligible Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States to continue living and working in our country for the next 18 months. This designation is part of the Administration's continuing efforts to support Haiti's recovery, and will protect Haitians who would otherwise be endangered by returning home. It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after January 12, 2010 will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated. Haitians in the U.S. who are eligible to apply for TPS should click here to find helpful information.
Helpful Tip Sheets for those Seeking Temporary Protected Status
For NJ Residents Interested in Bringing Relatives to NJ
As mentioned earlier in this Guide, the NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Refugee and Immigrant Services is the lead agency for repatriation, refugee services and emergency sheltering with assistance from the NJ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Department of Health and Senior Services (HSS).
As information about services and resources becomes available, this Guide will be updated.
Adoption Information
US Citizens with pending adoption cases in Haiti should send detailed information about their cases to
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for assistance.
Clothing
No information is currently available.
Emergency Documentation
No information is currently available.
Emergency Financial Assistance
No information is currently available.
Food
Food pantries and soup kitchens can be found in every county in our state. If you are finding it difficult to feed your family, locate a food resource in your community at www.endhungernj.org.
Medical Services
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is the lead agency for medical and public health support to repatriation/refugee operations in New Jersey.
The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is coordinating with state and local agencies for medical screening and care of incoming repatriates/refugees. They are also coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health screenings. As specific locations for medical care are announced they will be posted to this Guide.
Housing
There are a variety of local organizations working to develop housing options but currently there are no active housing listings for Haitian refugees. If your family is looking to find a larger housing unit, The NJ Housing Resource Center provides an online resource tool for finding affordable rental properties; it can be accessed at http://www.njhousing.gov/.
Legal Services
Legal Services of New Jersey can assist with civil legal services for low-income people including, housing, family, consumer, public entitlements, education, employment, and health care access. Please visit www.lsnj.org or call 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529). Local offices of New Jersey legal services providers can be found in the local county resource section of this guide.
Pets
If a family member is interested in relocating a pet to NJ, the pet must be cleared by customs when entering the country. See the US Customs document http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/publications/pets_2epdf/v1/pets.pdf for more information.
School Enrollment
No information is currently available.
 This page is part of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Assistance Guide provided by New Jersey 2-1-1 to provide a resource for New Jersey Residents and the Haitian Community who want to give help and get help in the aftermath of the January 12 Earthquake in Haiti. This guide was published and is maintained by New Jersey 2-1-1 at their web site - http://www.nj211.org.
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