Torture Survivors Project

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles - 060014

Abstract Number: 060014

April 2006

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) launched the Torture Survivors Project (TSP) to deliver legal services to immigrants who were tortured in their home country. After the client is granted asylum, the TSP assists clients in obtaining work permits, obtaining public benefits, applying for derivative asylee status for other family members, adjusting the client's legal status to permanent residents, and assisting clients through the naturalization process.

Recognizing that torture survivors often have psychological and medical problems, TSP staff members are trained to identify symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to refer clients to the Program for Torture Victims to ensure clients can access psychological and medical services to address PTSD. The TSP also works with the International Rescue Committee to provide employment training, which aids refugees in transitioning to their new life in the U.S. TSP staff members are working to build an asylum collaborative in Los Angeles to improve services for torture survivors.

LAFLA launched this project after receiving a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement in 2001. Initially after launching the program, TSP conducted extensive outreach to inform potential clients of available services. The project is comprised of one International Human Rights Analyst working under the supervision of an attorney. To learn more about the project, access the manual below and visit the TSP webpage.

Contact Information:

Carolina Sheinfeld
International Human Rights Analyst
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Torture Survivors Project - Immigration Unit
5228 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: (213)640-3933
Fax: (213) 640-3911
csheinfeld@lafla.org

Additional Information:

• Los Angeles Guide for Torture Survivors  ( 1.36mb)

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