An evaluator who understands the immigration process.
Expert evaluator
EXPERT EVALUATOR
Maria Blacque-Belair, LCSW
Maria Blacque-Belair is well known in the asylum-seeking and immigrant communities in New York as the Founder and Director of RIF Asylum Support. Two decades of experience working with asylum seekers, attorneys, providers, and government representatives are a testament to Maria's credentials.
Besides her global experience with forced migrants and humanitarian work, Maria is a licensed Clinical Social Worker (License in the State of New York: RO75010-01). She can conduct asylum evaluations in English, French, and Spanish.
Professional background:
Executive Director and Founder of RIF Asylum Support. 15 years:
RIF is a platform that provides asylum seekers with legal orientation; access to higher education; emotional support groups, and updated essential online resources for asylum seekers
Mental Health Counselor at Doctors Without Borders, USA. 10 years: Provided counseling for medical volunteers, first responders, and support staff who were deployed in major humanitarian disasters and war zones.
Humanitarian relief worker in war zones & disasters. 10 years: Acted as emergency relief coordinator in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Education:
Masters in Clinical Social Work at NYU (2000)
Licensed clinical social work in the State of New York ( R 075010)
Certification:
Post Graduate Certificate in International Trauma Studies (NYU 2000)
Disaster Mental Health Training, American Red Cross (2001)
Immigration law training at the New York Immigration Coalition (2013)
Health Rights Training in psychological evaluations ( 2007 & 2022)
Intensive asylum evaluation training at the Immigration evaluation training center (2021)