We need a finalized declaration or a mostly completed draft of a declaration. It is important the facts regarding the trauma and the facts relating to the client are in chronological order and detail the torture which took place, and who carried it out. The evaluators use this to prepare for your client’s appointment. It is also important that you contact us if any changes have taken place to your client’s case including the filing deadline, etc. 

• Who perpetrated the torture?  

• Was the perpetrator intentionally causing severe pain or suffering? Explain  

• When did it happen? Was this over a period of time, or just one event? 

• Where did it happen? 

• Were family members, partners, or members of the same group also tortured? 

• Was the perpetrator acting under “color of law”? Explain  

• Describe the acts of torture carried out 

You will receive an email/letter from our Intake Specialists that your client is eligible for our services and is enrolled at SURVIVORS. If you have enrollment questions, please email our Intake Specialists, Anny Nguyen ([email protected]) and Allison Metcalf ([email protected])

Our Client Services Coordinator, Mondana Hamniaz, will contact your client to schedule an in-person or video appointment. She will confirm with you the date and time of the appointment via encrypted email. She will also request from you if there are any updates to the declaration and/or filing deadlines. She can be contacted at [email protected] 

SURVIVORS needs 45 days to coordinate a psychological evaluation and/or medical evaluation. It takes approximately 2 weeks following the appointment to receive a completed evaluation. Mondana will ask for you to review the draft, and after your approval, she will send you a final signed affidavit via secure encrypted email. 

SURVIVORS will do our best to accommodate all enrolled clients, however, we have a significant number of new referrals daily. Please utilize our “Attorney Waitlist” letter to support a request for an extension. 

SURVIVORS has been told that this type of forensic documentation accompanied by the clinicians’ CVs is sufficient. We have also been told that given our expertise, credibility and reputation, these reports have been given full weight, standing on their own, without our evaluators appearing in court. Please use the “No Testimony” letter to support this with your judge. 

• Yes and no. We can help your client with video/virtual psychological evaluation, but we cannot provide a video/virtual medical evaluation to clients who are not physically in San Diego County (unless they travel to our office). We have provided a “Med Evals Not in SD County” letter to support your case, and we can possibly help contact a torture treatment center in another city depending on the location. 

Client Services Coordinator: Mondana Hamniaz (she/her)

[email protected] | (619) 278-2401 (direct)

Interim Director of Client Care: Katrina Pimental, MSW (she/her)

[email protected] | (925)-550-6770