Attorneys Requesting Evaluations
Follow this link to find a list of qualified mental health clinicians who have all received proper training to conduct a forensic evaluation to support the immigration case of your client.
Forensic Evaluator Directory
Follow this link to find a list of qualified mental health clinicians who have all received proper training to conduct a forensic evaluation to support the immigration case of your client.
PURPOSE
Forensic mental health evaluations serve a vital purpose for immigration cases, especially for clients who have experienced trauma. These services are particularly important for immigrants who are seeking status through asylum, U‐visa, T‐visa, VAWA, SIJS and Cancellation of Removal. Immigration legal services providers and mental health experts must work closely together to address clients’ trauma so they can advocate for themselves in the complex immigration system.
THE GOAL
The need for supporting mental health care for low-income immigrants is critical, and the need is particularly great for immigrants who have experienced the traumatic impacts of detention. The Collaborative has worked to develop resources to increase capacity for forensic evaluations by providing training to clinicians and attorneys and connecting local attorneys with local clinicians through our Online Directory.
How and Why to Integrate Support Services
Bringing social workers into legal settings is not a new phenomenon, social workers are present in child welfare systems, juvenile court systems, and schools. Immigration legal services have been somewhat slower to incorporate social services into their practices. Nevertheless, there is increasing recognition of the role trauma plays in the migrant journey and how many different factors can impact an immigrant’s legal case.
Watch our Trainings on Forensic Evaluation
Webinar #1
From Trauma to Resilience: Learning Client’s Stories with a Trauma-Informed Lens
This webinar will introduce attorneys working with immigrant clients to the definition of trauma, its impact on our clients and best practices for creating a safe environment for clients who have experience trauma to share what has happened to them for their legal case.
Webinar #2
Resilience for Youth: Working with Traumatized Immigrant Children
This second webinar builds on the introduction to trauma informed lawyering and highlights special considerations for working with children facing deportation in the immigration system.
Webinar #3
Setting up Forensic Evaluations
This webinar will focus on best practices for setting up an evaluation and collaborating with mental health evaluators. We will discuss when a forensic evaluation is needed based on the legal needs of a case. We will also delve into the components of a mental health evaluation and review different types of expert evaluations and licensing requirements.
Webinar #4
Incorporating the Evaluation and Preparing the Expert for Testimony
This webinar focuses on best practices for incorporating forensic evaluations in immigration cases. We review the planning and preparation process for providing expert testimony and break down what happens at the hearing.
Webinar #5
Conducting Forensic Mental Health Evaluations
This webinar is designed for mental health providers interested in gaining a baseline understanding of how to conduct forensic mental health evaluations. It explores the elements covered in a forensic evaluation, best practices, and considerations for working with special populations.
Our Programs
HILSC ADVOCATES FOR IMMIGRANTS THROUGH PRINCIPLED, VALUES-BASED COLLABORATION.
Holistic Legal
Services Capacity
Augment the capacity of immigration legal services providers to take an interdisciplinary approach in serving Greater Houston's diverse and growing immigrant population
Equitable
Access to Services
Advocate for efficient and equitable access to holistic legal and social services for all immigrants
Amplified
Voices
Increase awareness and understanding of immigrant needs and perspectives by providing a platform to elevate their voices and those of organizations working with them
Catalyzed
Ecosystem
Foster and facilitate a collaborative ecosystem of legal and social service providers, funders, and elected officials to benefit immigrants in the Greater Houston region
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