Miami Herald - August 17, 2006
Estephanie Resnik, eresnik@MiamiHerald.com

HEALING CENTER - Located in a pale, muted building on the fringes of downtown Miami, the offices of the Victim Services Center are surprisingly bright.

Pink and yellow saris hang from the ceiling, art depicting everything from flowers to vacation snapshots from Machu Picchu adorn the walls. An oversized Mickey Mouse doll sits on a blue armchair in the foyer, a visitor's first sight after stepping out of the nondescript elevator.

"It's very home-like," says Teresa Descilo, who in 1995 co-founded the center, which provides counseling and advocacy services to the victims of domestic abuse and other traumas, including immigrants who have suffered because of crimes like torture and human trafficking.

"The environment there is very welcoming," agrees Lisa, a client who receives counseling to help her deal with the aftermath of an abusive marriage. "If that place closes, I wouldn't have anyone to talk to who wouldn't pass judgment on me."

Last year the center faced mounting bills and the possibility of shutting down, but an infusion of money through new grants has instead led to an expansion of its services. Last month, the center opened a clinic to provide free physical health screenings to clients as well as walk-in patients who qualify.

The Wellness Above Violence Clinic was born from the efforts of Priyanka Handa, a 20-year-old medical student at the University of Miami who has been a volunteer at the center since 2004.

Handa noted the need for medical screenings among children whose parents went in for counseling.

"Teresa told me that one of the major unmet needs of the clients was healthcare," she said. "I noticed at the same time that the kids were sick continuously. I was up for starting [a clinic]. She needed someone to volunteer and do it."

Handa secured funding from the Goldman Sachs Foundation to launch the clinic, which offers free care to patients earning less than two times the federal poverty line. The initial grant of less than $5,000 was used to purchase medical supplies.

"We're hoping it will stretch about a year if no unpredicted expenses arise," Handa said, estimating the money will cover supplies needed to serve about 250 patient appointments over the course of the year. Doctors and other medical practitioners volunteer their services.

"We're kind of at the bare minimum," said Handa, who noted the clinic is seeking donations so it can hire a clinical coordinator to help run the clinic and apply for more funding to keep the medical services going.

To date, the care is centered around gynecology, STD/HIV testing and children's immunizations.

The addition of the clinic aims to further the holistic approach of the Victim Services Center, which also provides yoga, breathing exercises, chiropractic care and massage services in addition to mental health counseling.

"Trauma is stored in the body. The massage helps on the physical plane, while the counseling helps on the mental," said Shirley Hawkesworth, center co-founder and clinical director who oversees counseling.

The center has 39 staff members. Descilo estimates the center provided counseling, advocacy and holistic services to about 1,700 people last year. The clients are made up of walk-ins and referrals from local agencies and courts.

Lisa, who has received counseling at the center since November, said she has gained confidence.

"I've put up boundaries and limitations to where I will not let myself get emotionally abused anymore," she said. "The physical abuse won't ever happen again.

"They make you realize that it's not your fault."

In March 2005, financial problems had put the center in danger of closing down.

"There were grants that had not come through," Descilo said. "We were about to not be able to pay our bills."

Money from County Commissioners' discretionary funds kept the nonprofit going for a few months, and a new wave of grants and partnerships have helped the center stay solvent.

The center is awaiting final review to become a Medicaid provider, meaning it will be able to receive compensation from Medicaid for treating eligible patients who now receive free treatment.

"The promise of Medicaid will put us in a position of stability that will be just fabulous," said Descilo, who founded the clinic with Hawkesworth in 1995. At the time, she was working toward a master's degree in social work at FIU.

The center also now receives funding from partnerships with organizations including Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade to serve at-risk mothers, the Lotus House to serve homeless women, the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center in conjunction with Children's Trust to serve traumatized children and Health Foundation of South Florida to assist with Medicaid-related expenses.

Healthy Start executive director Manuel Fermin said 372 of the 12,200 pregnant women served last year by his organization told their medical providers they were victims of domestic violence. But he estimates the real number of victims served was much higher, more than 1,000.

"That's such a private thing, they don't admit it to doctors," Fermin said. 'Last week, we had a mom send in an e-mail saying, 'I'm in a domestic violence situation, I need help.' "

Fermin also believes domestic violence may go under-reported in immigrant populations, where women avoid seeking help for fear of deportation.

Healthy Start provides free short-term, birth-related information and classes on topics such as smoking cessation and breast-feeding to all at-risk mothers, including undocumented individuals.

Fermin is excited about partnering with Victim Services, where clients can seek long-term counseling, in addition to natal education.

"They're well-known in this community for providing solid therapies and counseling to people," Fermin said.

Descilo says the center's total budget will be $1.2 million next year, a substantial increase over the current budget of $850,000.

Descilo said no matter how much the center grows, more help is always needed. The list of names waiting for treatment is now at about 100.

"Which victim of violence do you say no to?" Descilo asked. "We've always struggled with not having enough money."

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