Nature and Purpose
The Haitian Multi-Service Center, the largest social service agency serving the Haitian population in Massachusetts, is a non-profit agency founded in 1978 to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing number of Haitian refugees coming to the area.  It joined the Catholic Charities network in 1984.  Its mission is to serve, in a linguistically and culturally sensitive manner, the health, education, day care and the immigration/settlement/food needs of the Haitian community, numbered at about 20-25,000, and to foster economic and social self-sufficiency.  Today it serves 5,000 families annually.

On-site programs include: Adult Education (literacy, ESL, EDP-External Diploma Program), Citizenship, Computer Literacy, Education for Employment, Day Care, Pregnancy and Parenting Support Programs, Immigration and Refugee assistance, Food Pantry, and Haitian Elders.  The Center serves clients primarily from Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury.

Tasks
The PULSE students play an important role in the services of the agency.  Tasks include:
*  serve as tutors in the ESL, EDP, or Citizenship programs
*  work with adult students in the computer lab
*  assist teachers in the Day Care classes
*  help with the running of the Food Pantry
*  work with Elders for ESL & Literacy
These primary tasks may be supplemented with the following:
*  mentor students in the Education for Employment Program
*  help with child care during parenting group meetings

Supervision
PULSE students are supervised by classroom teachers, the Director of the Computer Lab, the Director of the Food Pantry, or the Coordinator of the parenting groups.  They also meet regularly with the Volunteer Program Director who is responsible for the general orientation and evaluations.

Supervisor:    Sister Louise Sullivan, D.C.

Address:    Haitian Multi-Service Center
                   12 Bicknell Street
                   Dorchester, MA 02121
                   Tel.: (617) 436-2848

Council Member:    Raju Kansagra