Programs & Services
HAPA delivers programming across two primary strategic pillars: (1) Community Health Literacy
and (2) Healthcare Professional Education. These pillars are mutually reinforcing — empowered
community members seek care more effectively, and better-trained healthcare professionals serve
them more equitably.
Pillar 1: Community Health Literacy & Advocacy
1.1 Community Health Education Events
HAPA hosts health fairs, workshops, and community outreach sessions addressing preventive care,
chronic disease management, medication adherence, and navigation of the healthcare system.
Programming is delivered in English and Haitian Creole to ensure accessibility for our primary
communities. Topics have included:
• HIV/AIDS prevention and testing awareness
• COVID-19 education, vaccination outreach, and community support
• Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease)
• Medication safety, proper use, and adherence
• Health insurance navigation and patient rights
• Mental health destigmatization within Haitian and Caribbean communities
1.2 Health Literacy for Underserved Populations
HAPA is committed to building lasting health literacy among community members who face
structural barriers to care — including language barriers, lack of insurance, limited access to
primary care providers, and historical mistrust of the healthcare system. Our health literacy
HAITIAN AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION (HAPA) GRANT READINESS DOCUMENT
HAPA Inc. | EIN #82-3447000 | www.hapafla.org | info@hapafla.org
programming is designed to be culturally competent, language-accessible, and community-rooted,
delivered in partnership with trusted community organizations such as Sant La Community Center
and the Haitian American Alliance.
1.3 Humanitarian & Relief Response
HAPA has demonstrated its commitment to community well-being beyond the borders of South
Florida, responding to humanitarian crises with direct service. Past relief activities include:
• Hurricane Dorian Bahamas Relief missions in partnership with HANA
• Humanitarian trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic providing pharmaceutical and medical
support
• COVID-19 pandemic community response: providing hot meals through local churches for
food-insecure families
Pillar 2: Healthcare Professional Education & Workforce Development
A unique dimension of HAPA’s work is its focus on preparing healthcare students and professionals
to better serve underserved and culturally diverse communities. Florida is home to a rapidly growing
and diverse population; yet health disparities persist due in part to gaps in cultural competency and
community awareness within the healthcare workforce. HAPA directly addresses this gap.
2.1 Continuing Education (CE) for Healthcare Professionals
HAPA designs and delivers accredited continuing education programming for pharmacists,
pharmacy technicians, nurses, and physicians. CE programs emphasize:
• Cultural competency in serving Haitian, Caribbean, and other immigrant communities
• Pharmaceutical care integration in underserved and underinsured patient populations
• Community-based healthcare models and patient advocacy
• Medication management for chronic diseases prevalent in minority populations
2.2 Student Engagement & Pipeline Development
HAPA actively engages pharmacy students, nursing students, and medical students — particularly
through its partnership with Nova Southeastern University School of Pharmacy — to expose the
next generation of healthcare professionals to the realities of community health practice.
Programming includes:
• Student mentorship and professional development sessions
• Community immersion experiences alongside HAPA’s outreach programming
• Networking with practicing pharmacists, physicians, and nurses of Haitian and Caribbean
heritage
• Career guidance and scholarship information for underrepresented healthcare students
2.3 Interprofessional Health Education Seminars
HAPA convenes pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, physicians, and medical students
together for interprofessional education (IPE) events — building collaborative understanding of
each profession’s role in community health care. These seminars strengthen the referral networks
and collaborative relationships
