Office, 450 Davis Parkway, Homestead, FL 33034 - Phone 305-247-0072
FWAF Programs in Homestead
* FWAF launched the innovative Youth Empowerment Program in Apopka, Fellsmere, Pierson, Immokalee and Homestead. An HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention program for Haitian and Hispanic youth in at-risk and farmworker communities, the program uses the internet and social networking tools to keep the young people engaged and connected through interactive, relevant, continually evolving communications networks. With a three-year grant from the Florida Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS Bureau, YEP’s aim is to be a model program that can be replicated in other communities around the country, helping to educate and inform young people, and even helping to save lives. Just completing its first year, the program has already engaged over 72 young people in youth group sessions, a camping trip, and digital storytelling workshops which were not only fun, creative, and community-building, but also helped to raise the consciousness about disease risks and prevention. January ushers in the beginning of the second year of this already very successful project.
*ESTAMOS HACIENDO EXAMENES DE SIDA COMPLETAMENTE GRATIS EN HOMESTEAD! LLAMENOS (305) 247-0072
*WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING FREE HIV TESTING AT OUR OFFICE! CALL US (305) 247-0072
* Baby, I Love You is a newly launched program that provides healthy pregnancy and well-woman education to women of childbearing age in farmworker communities, funded by the Florida Department of Health’s Closing the Gap program. Outreach workers connect with at-risk farmworker women in all five satellite office areas of FWAF, helping women to become better informed, more self-confident, more knowledgeable, and better prepared for pregnancy and for a healthier life. Through this program, women are empowered to gain control over their own health by understanding the importance of good nutrition, preventive health care, managing stress, avoiding risky behaviors, home and car safety, addressing domestic violence and the availability of services and assistance in their community. The program started in July, and expects to reach 1000 farmworker and rural, low-income women in its first year.
*The Latino Small Farmers Outreach Initiative is a new project initiated in October that will reach Latino limited-resource farmers in the areas of Homestead and Pierson. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this project will provide important information to these farmers about Farm Service Agency programs and assistance they may be eligible for to improve and maintain their farms. Small farmers play a critical role in our food systems; however, it is often difficult for them to maintain their farm operations, especially following natural disasters. FWAF’s new outreach program will work with Latino small farmers to identify their needs, and connect them with useful resources.
FARMWORKER CHILDREN'S SCHOOL PROGRAM SAVED!
Congratulations to the children & residents of the Redland & South Dade Labor Centers!
Although the Miami Herald reported that the Homestead Housing Authority and the Miami-Dade County School Board reached an agreement to reopen the Migrant Educational Program on Monday, July 13, that was not quite the case. While an agreement appeared to have been reached, Edmund Carrera of the HHA once again began to make changes to the signed contract.
This was discovered when parents, children and supporters arrived at the Redland Labor Center to thank Mr. Carrera and to help prepare the school for Monday's session. Though Mr. Carrera called the police, who asked us to leave the camp, everyone remained peaceably assembled along US 1, receiving supporting honks and shouts from passing cars.
After several hours of negotiation between the School Board attorney and the attorney for the HHA, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho arrived at the camp with the contract. At last, Superintendent Carvalho announced the signed agreement to the gathered crowd. Shouts and tears followed as Farmworker Association of Florida General Coordinator, Tirso Moreno, thanked everyone for their efforts.
As Superintendent Carvalho stated, ``Anytime that we have a chance to declare kids the winners, we all win.'' Thank you to all of you who responded so quickly with your calls and your emails. It's heartwarming to see a community come together on behalf of its children.
