In 2018, we learned about extreme hardship 601-waiver evaluations and disability waiver and accommodation evaluations (N-648).  There are additional areas in which a psychologist may be requested to administer a psychological evaluation related to immigration issues.  This presentation will focus upon asylum and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA, 1994, 2000, 2005 2013).    As our country continues to consider its roots of development from colonies into states and makes decisions about inclusion of today’s immigrant populations, asylum and VAWA evaluations are prominent in that discussion.  We will discuss the federal laws relevant to psychologists who perform these evaluations and consider their practical application in the context of each evaluation.    Those attending are encouraged to be active participants, considering diagnoses, risks of harm, and other attributes involved in the two evaluations.  Administration, report writing, collateral sources, communication with the referral source, and court-related issues will be addressed.

Objectives

Objective #1 Based on the content of this program, participants will gain a general understanding of the development of immigration laws across American history.
Objective #2 Based on the content of this program, participants will understand current federal laws relevant to psychological evaluations of immigrants filing for asylum and VAWA.
Objective #3 Based on the content of this program, participants will learn how to accept referrals, conduct the evaluation, and communicate results for psychological evaluations related to asylum.