Torture Survivors at Risk to Lose Treatment

by FIRST Project | Views: 981

This week we were informed that the government grant that enabled the formation and sustenance of F.I.R.S.T. Project for the past six years is not renewed. 

We received very short notice, and we are trying to come up with a plan that will help us keep our doors open to continue offering services. And your help, whether by contracting our services, sponsoring clients or by donations, is a key element that will help F.I.R.S.T Project come up with a sustainable plan.

We are the only center in Nebraska that provides both direct behavioral health care and training on the treatment of torture and war trauma survivors.

We are experienced and specialized in working with people from multicultural backgrounds. We have serverd clients from 29 countries.

In the six years of operation we have served over 600 torture survivors. An estimated 3,500 torture survivors live in Nebraska.

We have trained community physicians, doctoral students and community case managers in working with multicultural clients. We have developed the curriculum for the Behavioral Health Interpreting class offered through Southeast Community College.

What is the Impact of Not Having F.I.R.S.T. Project?

Increased visits to the ER.  Our review of client records indicates frequent visits to the emergency room prior to their referral to FIRST Project. 

• Examples suggest visits are diminished and at times eliminated with our intervention.    
• Some cases had 13 visits prior to their referrals then stopped with intervention.
• Others, for example, went approximately 7 times per month.  With intervention this decreased to 1 time every 4 months.

Impact:  More admissions to  our already crowded Emergency Rooms.

911 calls included in some cases 2 or 3 per month until we got involved then went to 0.

Impact:  Increased  911 usage.

More police and court involvement, which discontinued after intervention.

Impact:  Increased police and court activity.

We have patients who are treated for years by physicians, psychologists and other mental health providers. 

Unfortunately, their torture is never identified and they continued to have expensive medical tests and therapy, which never addresses the actual need they have.  The client, unable to speak English, and often feeling their experience won’t be believed or understood,  is not able to communicate the real pain they are having.  The physician/psychologist, often well meaning, is not familiar with the experience of torture and its effects and may not understand the cultural nuances.

Impact:  More time and dollars spent on ineffective care.

With appropriate intervention people can return to work, feel better, have positive interactions and be contributing members of our society.

Impact:  More contributing members to society. 

Torture affects the survivors and their health. 

• Their spirit, ability to function, their level of pain, their interactions.
• It affects the relationship with their spouse &
• Their relationship with their children & their children’s interactions in schools.
• All of which affects interaction in the community and in our society.

Impact: Generations become contributing members of society .

Imagine you are sick and going to a specialist who is the only one in town and you are being treated for a significantly serious illness and you are finally hopeful that someone understands and can treat your suffering. 

The physician suddenly states “sorry I am closing my doors in two weeks”  “Good luck feeling better”

How can you help?

Please contact us as soon as possible if:

• You are interested in possible contract with F.I.R.S.T. Project for client treatment or staff training.
• You or your organization can sponsor a client. It costs only $5000 a year to provide a treatment of one client.  
• You can help with money donations. For details on money donations please visit our donation page.

Call us at: 402-488-6760 or email

• Australia Work Visas

FIRST Project
1000 "O" Street Suite 102
Lincoln, NE 68508