I am a PROVIDER I am a SURVIVOR I have QUESTIONS

What does HealTorture.org offer Service Providers?
How do I learn about the Healing Process?
What can I learn about via Webinars or by watching Videos?
What if I am a New Employee to a program serving torture survivors?
What resources are available to Students researching the healing process of torture survivors?

We encourage people who are serving survivors of torture to submit resources to this website.

Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022

In response to the rapid evacuation and resettlement of Afghans, per the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, and effective as of September 30, 2021, Congress has authorized the following:

  1. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 through September 30, 2022 are eligible for mainstream benefits, resettlement assistance, and other benefits available to refugees, until March 31, 2023 or the end of their parole term, whichever is later.  (Note that this is also the case for spouses or children of these individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C.

Various Resources From ORR - Afghan Evacuees

ORR have shared some new resources regarding Afghan evacuees for your situational awareness and to share:

  • Webinar on Afghan Culture and Health Screening Considerations from the CDC-funded Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health on Oct 4. Click to open attachment. Click here to register.
  • Flyer for bases: What Afghans should carry their medical records with them to their final destination. Click to open pdf.  CDC asks that this be disseminated to our deployers and encourages this be posted at the bases. 
  • CDC’s website containing resources for deployers and external partners is now live:  

Switchboard: Resources for Serving Afghan Clients

Switchboard recently published two blog posts aimed at service providers supporting clients and recent arrivals from Afghanistan. A Round-Up of Resources for Serving Afghan Evacuees shares federal policies, cultural orientation resources, and economic empowerment and digital inclusion resources. It includes a focus on resources available in Dari and Pashto. Supporting Clients and Staff Affected by the Crisis in Afghanistan provides tips that may be helpful to program staff and leaders as they seek to care for clients and staff affected by the situation in Afghanistan.

SAVE - Afghan Special Immigrant Parolee and LPR Status

Afghan Special Immigrant Parolee and Lawful Permanent Resident Status

On July 30, 2021, the President announced that the first flight of Operation Allies Refuge had arrived in the United States, carrying Afghans who are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), including family members. These individuals and future arrivals that are part of this operation will have a special immigrant Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status or special immigrant parole that meets the special immigrant requirement for certain government benefits. 

As with other Iraqis and Afghans and their dependents admitted

Afghan SI/SQ Parolee communication from ORR partners

As you know, in the first week of August, ORR published ORR PL 21-07, Amendment to ORR Policy Letter 16-01: Additional Form of Documentation for Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants. In addition, in response to concerns about Afghans with SI/SQ parole (per section 602(B)(1) AAPA / Section 1509(a) NDAA 2006) not being able to access mainstream benefits, ORR took two main steps.

  1. Issued ORR DCL 21-16, Clarification Related to Afghan SQ/SI Parolees Eligibility for RCA/RMA, as a reminder that if these Afghan parolees are found ineligible for TANF or Medicaid, they should be screened for RCA and

Updates on COVID-19 Resources

National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) COVID-19 resources for Afghan new arrivals and Back to School Updated 8/24/21

COVID-19 resources for Afghan new arrivals

  • Refugee resettlement agencies, local governments and community organizations are providing housing, clothing, healthcare, transportation and other resources that cover the basic needs of the Afghan new arrivals who have been displaced from their home country.
  • The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants (NRC-RIM) can only provide resources related to COVID-19, and acknowledge that

Afghan SIV Information

Attached please find Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) 21-16 Clarification Related to Afghan SQ/SI Parolees Eligibility for RCA/RMA. It will be posted to the DCL page of the ORR web site in the near future (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/dear-colleague-letter). Please distribute as appropriate to your networks as these individuals have begun arriving to their resettlement locations within the United States. Contact ORR’s Refugee Policy Unit (RefugeePolicy@acf.hhs.gov) with any questions.

Attached please find FAQs and related resources for Afghan SIVs being processed out of Fort Lee.

Post COVID-19 SoT Program Reopening Considerations

In a recent meeting of Survivors of Torture (SoT) programs, there were a range of approaches shared about returning to in-person work since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Some programs are taking a slow, tiered approach to reopening, with some staff returning to the office, while others remain remote. Others are opening offices for staff but continuing to see clients via telehealth. Some are waiting until September, after children return to school. Here are some of the considerations discussed by SoT programs and Dr.

Post COVID-19 Re-entry with Blended/Hybrid Telehealth

By Eugene F. Augusterfer and Richard F. Mollica

First, let us start by defining blended or hybrid telehealth. As the name suggests, blended or hybrid telehealth is a combination of traditional face-to-face clinical encounters blended with virtual or telehealth encounters. When possible, it is best to have an initial meeting face-to-face, then move to telehealth meetings. Studies and experience have demonstrated that while using telehealth, occasional face-to-face meetings mixed with telehealth meetings is more efficacious.

Telehealth Tips

(Updated 8/2/2021)

While some of you have been using teletherapy for a long time, many therapists have had to switch over very quickly from in-person consultations, to online or telephone consultations. Below are tips that can be of use to you in providing teletherapy, whether you have been practicing it for a long time, or you are brand new to the process.

Center for Victims of Torture Literature Selection Q2 2021

This document is a resource for current literature, April - June, on the topic of the mental health status of and treatments for torture survivors, war trauma survivors, refugees, and asylum seekers. This also includes research in the area of social work that relates directly to the psychological well-being of these populations. The compilation below includes peer reviewed journal article citations in these areas and links to the publicly available abstracts and full text versions of these articles. It does not currently include articles on policy and advocacy.

COVID-19 Guidance on Re-Opening or Expanding In-Person Services

Many SoT programs are contemplating re-opening or expanding in-person services in the near future and may have questions about doing that safely and ethically. At this point, there is no blanket guidance for federal grantees other than following the CDC, state, and local guidelines.  Below are some preliminary thoughts that have come from our friends at ORR that may be useful. This will also be a topic in the next ORR Virtual Town Meeting for SoT grantee organizations.

Masks are still required in healthcare settings, schools, and public transportation.

In general, social service providers

Supporting ORR's UC Program

Dear Resettlement Agencies and Refugee Program Discretionary Grantees,

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has learned that there is a strong interest to support increasing provider participation in the Unaccompanied Children (UC) program. ORR is working diligently to expand our licensed bed capacity and other support resources, and we recognize that a lot of you have been fielding questions about this, or are interested in helping yourself, and we hope that the following information will be helpful to you. 

Below are categories and options for an organization to work with the ORR to expand

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