COVID-19 & How You Can Help – A Message from Executive Director Kathi Anderson

Mar 21, 2020

Dear SURVIVORS’ Community,
I am writing to inform you that SURVIVORS has quickly mobilized to protect the safety of our clients, staff, and volunteers while ensuring we can continue to serve hundreds of torture survivors and their families. As you are aware, we are the only accredited torture treatment center in San Diego County. Therefore, it is crucial we maintain our services for the vulnerable and marginalized populations we serve. We have made the following key changes for the health and well-being of our SURVIVORS community:
  • Providing support and critical information to our clients in their native languages through the use of professional interpreters regarding COVID-19 including education on social distancing and other CDC recommendations.
  • Offering clinical case management services by telephone including connections to basic needs like food, supplies, and resources.
  • Offering individual teletherapy that includes professional interpretation to meet our clients’ mental health needs.
  • Providing psychiatry and medication management to our clients through telemedicine, in partnership with UCSD Community Psychiatry Program.
  • Coordinating medication delivery to our clients’ homes to help support their psychiatric care.
We are concerned now more than ever about the safety and well-being of those we serve. The majority of our clients are asylum seekers many of whom are currently held in an immigration detention center. Our clients’ asylum cases are still being heard in immigration court which as of today has not been closed. Without our assistance, they would have limited access to the information, resources, and care they need during this public health crisis.  Many of our clients fall into high-risk categories for contracting COVID-19 including those with chronic illnesses, significant mental health needs, unstable housing, and coming from underserved immigrant communities. Our clients are often disconnected from loved ones or community because they had to flee torture. We are dedicated to serving our clients in steadfast and innovative ways to meet their many needs. SURVIVORS continues to be a source of hope and light to our clients especially during this unprecedented time. We need your support to be their support.

Unrestricted funds and donations allow us to respond to our clients’ needs quickly and effectively. Your donation will support us in continuing to provide critical services and wrap-around, trauma-informed care to torture survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes critical forensic documentation for asylum cases, clinical and medical case management, individual therapy, and psychiatry. YOU make our work possible today and every day!

Please make a gift today in one of the following ways to provide care to torture survivors during this time of need: 

1. Online here
2. Mail a check to:
Survivors of Torture, International
PO Box 151240
San Diego, CA 92175

During this time of uncertainty it is important to foster a welcoming and connected community. We are all in this together. We are proud to serve torture survivors. We are inspired to know YOU choose to be a part of our community. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to support SURVIVORS. We hope you and your loved ones stay safe and are in good health.

Sincerely,