For Clinicians

Training, Mentorship, and the Opportunity to Use Your Skills Where They’re Needed Most

Use Your Clinical Expertise to Protect Human Rights

Join a network of 200+ physicians, psychologists, and mental health professionals providing pro bono forensic evaluations for asylum seekers across the Midwest.

Our Collective Impact

200+

Evaluators

250+

Evaluations

65+

Cases

100%

Pro Bono

Use Your Clinical Expertise to Protect Human Rights

As a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other health professional, you have the training to document what words alone cannot convey. Forensic medical and psychological evaluations translate clinical findings into evidence that immigration courts rely on to make fair decisions—and for many families, your evaluation may be the single most important piece of their case.
MHRC makes it straightforward to contribute. We provide the training, the referrals, the templates, and the mentorship. You provide the clinical expertise.
No prior forensic or immigration experience is required. We train you.

Our Collective Impact

2–4 hrs

Typical Evaluation Time

Direct patient contact per case

Zero

Prior Forensic Experience Needed

We provide full training

No Minimum

Commitment Required

One case per year is welcome

100%

Pro Bono

All evaluations provided at no cost to clients

Who Can Volunteer

Clinicians need to see themselves on this page. A clear list of eligible disciplines removes ambiguity.

Physicians (MD/DO)

Particularly pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and OB/GYN

Psychologists (PhD/PsyD)

Clinical and counseling psychologists with assessment experience

Psychiatrists

Adult and child/adolescent psychiatry

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

LCSWs with clinical assessment and documentation experience

Advanced Practice Providers

NPs, PAs, and others with relevant clinical experience

Residents & Fellows

Trainees are welcome and will be paired with an experienced mentor for all cases

Types of Cases You’ll Work On

Clinicians should understand the range of work before they sign up. This also corrects the current page’s asylum-only framing.

Asylum and withholding of removal

Documenting physical and psychological evidence of persecution, torture, and harm

U visas

Evaluating trauma from qualifying crimes committed in the United States

VAWA protections

Documenting domestic violence, abuse, and extreme cruelty

T visas

Evaluating survivors of human trafficking

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Pediatric evaluations documenting abuse, neglect, or abandonment

You choose which case types you’re comfortable with. You’ll never be assigned a case without your agreement.

What MHRC Provides

This section directly addresses the “What do I get out of this?” and “Will I be supported?” questions that determine whether a clinician signs up.

Comprehensive training

in forensic evaluation techniques, developed in partnership with Physicians for Human Rights and academic medical centers including Loyola University Chicago

Mentorship for your first cases

an experienced forensic evaluator reviews your work and is available for questions throughout the process

Evaluation templates and documentation guides

that meet legal evidentiary standards, so you’re never starting from scratch

Full case coordination

we handle referral logistics, scheduling, attorney communication, and interpreter arrangements so you can focus on the clinical work

Continuing education opportunities

and professional development in asylum medicine, trauma-informed care, and forensic documentation

A community of peers

join a network of over 200 clinicians across 12 states who share resources, case insights, and professional support

What to Expect

Walk clinicians through the experience step by step so it feels manageable, not mysterious.
01
Sign Up & Complete Training
Fill out our volunteer intake form and attend a training session—offered as webinars and in-person workshops throughout the year. Training covers forensic evaluation methodology, documentation standards, trauma-informed interviewing, and the legal context for immigration cases.
02
Receive Your First Case
When a referral matches your location, specialty, and availability, our coordination team will reach out with the case details. You choose whether to accept. For your first case, you’ll be paired with an experienced mentor.
03
AweConduct the Evaluationsome Design
Meet with the client (with an interpreter if needed) for a comprehensive forensic evaluation—typically 2–4 hours of direct contact. Medical evaluations may be shorter; comprehensive psychological evaluations may involve multiple sessions.
04
Write and Submit Your Report
Using our templates and documentation guides, prepare a detailed affidavit or declaration. Your mentor is available to review drafts and answer questions. The completed report is returned to the referring attorney for inclusion in the client’s legal filing.
05
Follow-Up (If Needed)
In most cases, the written report is sufficient. Occasionally, an attorney may request clarification or, rarely, expert testimony. This is always discussed with you in advance, and MHRC provides preparation and support.

Why It Matters

“Your expert evaluation can be the single most powerful piece of evidence in an asylum case.” — The Impact of Forensic Evaluations

As a medical or mental health professional, you have the training to recognize and document the physical and psychological effects of persecution and torture.

What Evaluators Do

👤

Conduct Interviews

Meet with asylum seekers (in person or via telehealth) to assess and document evidence of trauma, persecution, or torture using established forensic protocols.

📝

Write Reports

Prepare a detailed evaluation report — including clinical findings, diagnostic impressions, and an expert opinion on the consistency of the client's account — for use in immigration proceedings.

⚖️

Expert Testimony

In some cases, clinicians may be asked to provide testimony or declarations to support the evaluation findings.

Our Collective Impact

Evaluators
0 +
Sessions
0 +
Mentors
0 +
Pro Bono Service
0 %

📋

Case Reviews

Regular case review sessions where evaluators discuss complex cases, share approaches, and learn from experienced colleagues.

🎤

Training Sessions

Topical sessions featuring experts in asylum medicine, country conditions, trauma, and immigration law. Recordings available in our resource library.

🤝

Mentorship

New evaluators are paired with experienced clinicians who provide guidance through initial cases and ongoing consultation.

Clinician Testimonial

Social proof from a peer is the most powerful motivator for clinician sign-up. Place this between the “What to Expect” section and the CTA.
Dr. James Carter
Placeholder for volunteer clinician quote—ideally someone describing their first evaluation experience, the mentorship they received, or the impact of the work

Ready to Make a Difference?

Sign up takes five minutes. We’ll follow up with training dates and next steps.
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