As a first-generation Caribbean American, I often draw inspiration from my greatest role models — my parents. Their courage to leave our family’s native country of Haiti in order to create an even better life for our family is forever imprinted in my mind. They were not fleeing the country, in fact, my mother was an elementary school teacher and my father was a school principal. America represented for them what it represents for many immigrants, a nation of opportunity.
My parents taught my siblings and me the values of hard work, compassion, sacrifice, perseverance and dignity through stories of their first jobs in the U.S. My mother was a live-in nanny and my father painted boats for $1.75/hour. My parents performed their jobs to the best of their ability, not telling their employers or co-workers of their professions in Haiti, for they knew that respect would be earned by the quality of their work and not the titles that they held. From this humble environment came my passion to serve others, which in turn drew me to medicine and public health. And many other Caribbean Americans have shared a similar experience.
Together, we represent countless contributions to the American landscape in fields ranging from science to art, business to government, academia to entertainment and sports — contributions that can be directly traced to steadfast resilience born from the unyielding hope, fierce determination and loving selflessness of our families. Caribbean American Heritage Month in June is an opportune time for us to recognize the individual threads that have been woven into the vibrant cultural tapestry of the U.S. by Caribbean Americans.
This month, I, along with many others, express gratitude to individuals of Caribbean descent who have paved the way to opportunity. And it is the recognition of the contributions of immigrants and refugees that inspired President Obama to establish the White House Task Force on New Americans, a government-wide effort tasked with better integrating immigrants and refugees into American communities in three key areas: civically, economically and linguistically.
As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, I carry the distinct honor of advancing efforts to increase access to better health and health care for all, including our Caribbean American brothers and sisters. And that includes ensuring that health and health care organizations provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the diverse communities they serve as a means of improving quality, reducing health disparities and advancing health equity.
Health inequities in our nation are well documented, and the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care are an important tool to help eliminate health inequities. The provision of services that are respectful of and responsive to the cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy levels, and communication needs of diverse individuals and communities are critical to closing the gap in health outcomes.
After all, health is at the foundation of opportunity. It provides the freedom to pursue your dreams and fulfill your potential. And when all among us have the opportunity to live healthy lives and reach our full potential, it strengthens us all.
Visit our website to learn more about the HHS Office of Minority Health and the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care.
Last Edited: 01/23/2017