Free Services to Surfside Building Collapse Victims and Their Families

Miami’s Albizu University has announced that all victims, family members and friends impacted by this morning’s apartment building collapse in Surfside, Florida can receive free mental health counseling in person or via secure telehealth at Miami’s Albizu Clinic by calling: (305) 592-7860. “The mental trauma of surviving and even simply witnessing a disaster like this cannot be understated, particularly, when it involves the perceived safety of one’s own home and the seeming fortitude of a large apartment building,” explained Albizu University Chancellor, Dr. Tilokie DePoo. “The Albizu Clinic provides trauma counseling and psychological crisis intervention. I am proud to say that our professors and clinicians are already lining up to volunteer and we are standing by to help our neighbors.” 
 
The Clinic, which is also known as the Goodman Psychological Services Center, is part of Miami’s Albizu University, where it has been providing quality mental health services in English and Spanish to thousands of people throughout South Florida, since 1980. Clinic mental health services include individual psychotherapy for ages five and up; therapy for couples and marriages; family therapy; psychoeducational groups in specialized topic areas (i.e., parenting skills training); and psychological, diagnostic, and psychoeducational evaluations for children, adolescents and adults that can determine special cognitive abilities and disorders.  

The Albizu Clinic serves individuals and families with no health insurance. Its bilingual staff works to alleviate any cultural stigma arising when obtaining mental health services, particularly for people with limited English language proficiency. 

Dr. Evangelina Alonso, the Goodman Center’s Director, stated “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of this tragedy. As we continue adjusting through the current state of uncertainty with the COVID-19 Pandemic, witnessing something so tragic like this happening to our neighbors this morning, unquestionably exacerbates the already elevated levels of stress in our community. We are here to assist in any way that we can.”