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.

(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.

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

Here is a recent special report in Emergency Medicine News, “Torture Survivors: Hidden in Plain Sight,” by Gina Shaw, which cites many of our friends from Libertas Center for Human Rights, like Dr. Lars Beattie and Dr. Rajeev Bais (both founders of Libertas), and Dr. Dinali Fernando, as well as Dr. Allen Keller (founder of Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture).

“A Field Report on the Pilot Implementation of Problem Management Plus with Lay Providers in an Eritrean Refugee Setting in Ethiopia” - This report covers a pilot training program that was conducted with paraprofessionals working with Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, focused on skills and delivery of the Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention, which focuses on mental health needs in humanitarian crises, including COVID response. Authors Frezgi Gebrekristos, MA, EQUIP focal person, CVT Ethiopia-Tigray; Liyam Eloul, MA, clinical advisor; and Shannon Golden, PH.D., research associate; write about the project and lessons learned. Download the PDF here.

“Development of a Tool to Assess Competencies of Problem Management Plus Facilitators Using Observed Standardised Role Plays: The EQUIP Competency Rating Scale for Problem Management Plus”

This document is a resource for current literature, January through March, 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.

Telehealth.HHS.gov has added a new best practice guide on telehealth for behavioral health care. Behavioral health – like other areas of health care – has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is now easier for mental health providers to offer and get reimbursed for telebehavioral health services. Telehealth can also make behavioral health services safer and more private and convenient for patients who can access care from their home. Find resources in the telebehavioral health best practice guide on getting started, developing a strategy, billing, preparing