The Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC), formerly known as the Somali Women And Children's Association, was founded in 1993. We are a community-based, non-profit, grassroots human service agency that provides comprehensive services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants as well as the larger community.
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Services Offered
Community Counseling (Boston Clinic)
RIAC Community Counseling Services is a community-based mental health and social support program created to serve the unique needs of refugees and immigrants. Our multi-cultural and multi-lingual clinical staff has expertise in refugee and immigrant mental health issues as well as a deep understanding of the cultural needs of the populations we serve. We currently offer services in English, Farsi, Ibo, Hausa, Swahili, Spanish, French and Somali, utilizing medical interpreters as needed.
Call RIAC at (617)238-2430 to make an appointment today. For after hour clinical emergencies please call (617)261-2034.
Community Education
RIAC hosts events and forums in order to educate our clients and others from the wider community about a range of subjects that RIAC deems to be of critical importance to the community. Topics covered have included: HIV prevention, domestic violence awareness, mental health stigmas, and issues during the teenage years.
Social Adjustment Services
Staff provides outreach and support to Somali children in the Boston public schools. RIAC provides support, education and training to parents and teachers, and to families who seek help learning about the United States and adjusting to life here. RIAC also organizes summer programs for youth.
Fees and Payment
Donations Are Welcome. RIAC is a community-based, non-profit, grassroots human service agency that provides comprehensive services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants.
Services Offered To: Adults
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.