Seattle Asylum Forensic Evaluation Network
Every year, millions of people around the world are forced to flee their home countries due to persecution. For these millions, receiving asylum may be the difference between life and death. Over 1.6 million people currently have asylum applications pending in the United States, including survivors of genocide, torture, gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+ oppression, and religious discrimination
A part of Refugees Northwest, the Seattle Asylum Forensic Evaluation Network (SAFE Net) is an organization of licensed medical and mental health clinicians who volunteer their time and expertise to conduct independent forensic evaluations, providing valuable evidentiary support for both affirmative and defensive asylum cases
What does SAFE Net do?
SAFE Net is built on three foundational pillars:
Direct Support for Asylum Applicants
We provide pro bono forensic medical and psychological evaluations for people applying for asylum. Our network of trained, licensed clinicians volunteer their time to review applicant information, conduct evaluative interviews, and write affidavits to use during legal proceedings, all at no cost to the applicant. You can request a forensic evaluation here
Training and Mentorship
SAFE Net provides training and mentorship in conducting forensic evaluations for asylum applicants, increasing the number of local clinicians able to serve this population. Our Doctoral Residency program provides intensive training to advanced clinical psychology doctoral students, developing the next generation of experts in providing psychological services to refugee and asylee populations. We partner with the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Student Asylum Clinic to support the development of the next generation of experts in providing medical services to refugee and asylee populations
Advancing Understanding
SAFE Net partners with academic researchers to produce internal and external research. We aim to study the experiences of asylum-seekers, understand the mental and physical health impact of events related to asylum claims, look at the impacts of pre and post forced migration, improve the quality of services, and promote the well-being of the populations we serve
Who funds SAFE Net?
SAFE Net, formerly known as the Evaluation Network, is a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) and is supported in part by the City of Seattle. Seattle has declared itself a 'Welcoming City' - also called a sanctuary city - and is a proud member of pro-immigration coalitions including Cities for Action. We are an extension of this commitment. You can learn more about our team here
How can I request a pro bono forensic evaluation?
Our current funding requires that applicants are receiving pro-bono or low-bono representation, have a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and are not currently in detention. In most cases, our funding also requires that applicants have a Seattle connection. You can learn more about our eligibility criteria here
If you'd like to request a forensic evaluation, please send us the required documentation (including a signed 2023 Release of Information form) and then fill out our online Evaluation Referral form. More information on the referral process is available here
How can I join the network?
If you're a medical or mental health clinician licensed in the State of Washington, please contact us for information about volunteering. Our trainings are free, and are held virtually several times a year. You can find more information about the process here
Once you've attended a SAFE Net training, please fill out a volunteer application form and we'll contact you for the necessary background check