Program for Torture Victims, Orange County
Please find an online referral form on our website or email [email protected].
The Program for Torture Victims (PTV) is a social services and health agency serving Los Angeles and Orange County, California that assists survivors of torture, persecution or other human rights abuses. PTV provides trauma responsive and culturally sensitive therapeutic mental health and medical care, therapeutic case management support, legal assistance, forensic psychological and medical evaluations and expert witness testimony in court and limited assistance with basic needs. PTV organizes peer group support networks, offers survivor leadership capacity building and engages immigrant communities in expressive arts healing. PTV is available to provide training and consultation services to professionals (physicians, mental health providers, attorneys) on topics related to serving survivors of torture. PTV was founded in 1980 — the first torture treatment center in North America.
PTV is a member of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs.
Do you have to be a survivor of torture to be eligible for your services?
We assist individuals and families who have been persecuted and/or tortured in their country of origin or while in transit. Survivors of torture who are victims of crime in the US are also eligible for assistance.
If someone is not eligible for your services do you assist with local referrals?
Yes
Key Partners in Direct Care (Please send referrals to healing center first)
Services are provided at PTV:
- PTV is part of the Afghan Refugee Task Force of Los Angeles County — and will coordinate care with community and government partners as need arises
Expanded details of program’s services:
We screen and determine eligibility on a case by case basis. We provide services via telehealth and in-person as needed and work with a robust team of interpreters to communicate effectively with our population.
Mental Health:
- Trauma Responsive Therapy and Case Management
- Forensic Psychological Evaluations + Expert Witness Testimony
- Therapeutic Group Support
- Expressive Arts Healing (Theater/Storytelling) Programming
Medical:
- Primary Care Clinic for Torture Survivors
- Forensic Medical Evaluations + Expert Witness Testimony
- Health Education Forums
Legal:
- Legal Coordination with partner attorneys
- I-589 forms, EAD renewals, Name Change, etc (via zoom)
- Forensic Evaluations and Testimony in Immigration Court
Social Services:
- Intensive or brief Case Management
- Advocacy and Accompaniment (virtual and live as appropriate) to court, police stations, medical appointments, public benefits applications, etc
- Support with enrolling in health access, medical home, obtaining legal representation
- Cultural adjustment orientation and support
- ESL classes and Job readiness support
- Organizing informational clinics and workshops eg Know Your Rights, financial literacy, job readiness, career options, mental health, etc
- Limited support for basic needs (food cards, clothing, etc) as available