About the Survivors of Torture/ Northwest Refuge & Care Alliance Program:
A collaborative program between IRC-SEA, Harborview Medical Center (HMC), and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) to provide comprehensive services to survivors of torture in Washington State.
The IRC’s SOT/NRCA Program is dedicated to helping survivors of physical, sexual or psychological torture, including those forced to torture or witness the torture of others to have access to mental health and psychosocial support.
We utilize a holistic approach emphasizing prevention, education, and lifestyle management, and empower refugees to make long-term and lasting changes that support healing and optimum health.
Who We Serve
- Primary Survivors of Torture – an individual who was forced by perpetrators to either torture or witness the torture of another person
- Secondary Survivors of Torture – a relative or other individual closely associated with a primary survivor, who is impacted by the torture and subsequent trauma in a way that threatens their health or mental health and their ability to function or normal development.
- Experienced torture in a foreign country/ outside of the US
- New resident in the U.S.( including refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, immigrants)
The Impact
Survivors of torture face deep physical and emotional wounds, leading to:
- Family & Community: Loss of trust, violence, and social disintegration
- Mental Health Support: Individual therapy, group counseling, and medication management
- Social Services: Assistance with housing, benefits, employment, as well as community connections
- Legal Assistance: Connection to legal resources for asylum and protection
Our services are ongoing, tailored to individual needs, and delivered in partnership with local providers. The IRC’s SOT Program is a proud member of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs.
How you can help as a clinician:
The Evaluation Alliance for Human Rights (EAHR) recruits and trains volunteer physicians and mental health professionals to provide free medical and psychological evaluations for individuals seeking asylum and other forms of humanitarian protection. These evaluations document physical and psychological trauma, offering crucial evidence in immigration cases.
Why Evaluation Matters
- Support asylum-seekers facing deportation risks
- Help document human rights violations
- Strengthen legal claims for protection
EAHR operates in Seattle, WA, collaborating with medical, mental health, and legal experts to ensure high-quality, trauma-informed psychological and medical evaluations.
For more information on the EAHR program, please visit our website: Evaluation Alliance for Human Rights
For more information on the SOT program and how to make a referral, please contact the Case Coordinator, Zahida Jaffer.
If you have a client that you believe will benefit from SOT/NRCA program services, please fill out our referral form:
To participate in the EAHR program, please contact the EAHR Coordinator, Josseline Ladjo.
Together, we help survivors heal and thrive.