Social work and human rights: Evidence for serving torture survivors through a community based model

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Abigail Alexander, MA, MPH, Stacie Blake, MPA, and Michael Bernstein, LCSW. Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services Inc., 155 S Miami Ave, Suite 320, Miami, FL 33130, 305-349-1323, alexander@gcjfs.org

The United Nations 1984 Convention Against Torture defines torture as intentionally inflicted severe pain or suffering, physical or mental, that is designed to solicit information/confession, punishment, intimidation or coercion, or for any reason based on discrimination by or with the consent of a public official or person acting in an official capacity. The recognized purpose of torture is to strip individuals of their human rights and to manipulate communities and societies. Studies have shown that 5% to 100% of refugees worldwide have experienced physical and/or psychological torture depending on the ethnic group and country of origin. Currently there are an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 torture survivors living in the United States. The physical and psychological impact of their experiences can be long-term. These experiences affect the acculturation process, language acquisition and ability to fulfill basic needs as new arrivals to this country. The Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, a program of Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services Inc., receives federal and United Nations funding to serve survivors of political and state-sponsored torture in Tampa Bay and Miami-Dade areas. Through a Center Without Walls model, FCST provides intensive case management while linking clients to a cadre of professional service providers in the areas of medical, mental health, legal and education in the communities where they live. Using data from FCST's ongoing program evaluation and research projects, this presentation will describe the Center Without Walls approach, public health outcomes in relation to torture survivors, and methods to effectively serve this population.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session the participants will be able to

1. Understand the prevalence and presentation of torture survivors
2. Identify differences in the cultural experiences of torture survivors receiving intensive case management through a community based torture treatment program
3. Recognize the benefits of a Center Without Walls model of treatment using multidisciplinary service providers

Keywords: Law,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Public Health Social Work Best Practices in Program Administration (Evidence-Based Outcomes)

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA