Specialties & Conditions Forensic Assessment for Immigration Relief (FAIR) Clinic
Forensic Assessment for Immigration Relief (FAIR) Clinic
The FAIR Clinic provides pro bono, trauma-informed forensic medical and psychological evaluations to child and adolescent survivors of torture, persecution, or other human rights abuses who are seeking asylum in the United States. The FAIR Clinic is the only one of its kind in Illinois to specialize in pediatric populations.
Goals & Objectives
The FAIR Clinic has four areas of focus:
- Evaluations: Increase access to medical and psychological forensic asylum evaluations for children/adolescents who have experienced trauma in their countries of origin or anywhere along their migration route.
- Training: Train the next generation of healthcare providers to be able to offer these evaluations that are so essential to procuring safety and access to healthcare for a population that has been structurally marginalized and underserved.
- Research: Document psychiatric and medical needs of this population locally and inform best practices for forensic asylum evaluations with pediatric populations.
- Advocacy: Collaborate with various organizations including MHRC (Midwest Human Rights Consortium), NIJC (National Immigrant Justice Center), Chicago Mayor’s Office, IFLC (Immigrant Families Learning Collaborative), Office of New Americans, and Chicago is With You Task Force on various initiatives advancing social justice in healthcare.
FAIR Clinic Team
The FAIR Clinic evaluators are bilingual (medical evaluations available in Spanish; psychiatric evaluations available in Spanish and Arabic). FAIR Clinic is co-led by pediatric clinical psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Ford-Paz, PhD, and child abuse pediatrician, Dr. Norell Rosado.
Human rights clinics are often started and operated by medical students. However, student-run clinics often struggle with workflow due to frequent turnover and transition during cases that may take months or years to be adjudicated. Drs. Ford-Paz and Rosado have advocated for permanence of the FAIR Clinic by securing hospital commitment to both providing forensic evaluations for youth seeking immigration relief and training the next generation of pediatric specialty providers to provide this type of service. Lurie Children’s medical and psychiatric students, interns, and fellows have the opportunity to learn how to conduct these specialized assessments.
Rebecca Ford-Paz, PhD
Clinical Child Psychologist, Trauma Treatment Service in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health
Contact: 312.227.6034 | rfordpaz@luriechildrens.org
Norell Rosado, MD
Division Head, Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics
Contact: 312.227.2580 | nrosado@luriechildrens.org
Tareq Yaqub, MD
Child Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Acute Care Service
Contact: 312.227.3440 |tyaqub@luriechildrens.org
Patricia Aguirre, LCSW
Senior Social Worker, Trauma Treatment Service in The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Contact: 312.227.3444 | paguirre@luriechildrens.org
Referrals
Referrals come from immigration attorneys who have deemed forensic evaluations necessary for clients seeking immigration relief. Referrals can be submitted to the Midwest Human Rights Consortium or attorneys can email us directly at: FAIRClinic@luriechildrens.org. Download our FAIR Clinic flyer for more information.
If you are a patient or are a provider working with a patient who does not yet have legal representation, and you think they may qualify for immigration relief, consider contacting:
Location
Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
467 W. Deming Place
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Psychological evaluations will take place in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Clinic on the 8th Floor. Medical evaluations will take place at the Safety and Well-Being Clinic on the 4th Floor.
Philanthropy
We rely on philanthropic funding to enhance our program and services. Your support is vital in helping us continue to reach the FAIR Clinic's goals. To learn more about how you can support the FAIR Clinic, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500, or make a gift below.
