Seniors and Trauma Survivors Empowerment Program (STEP)
Seniors and Trauma Survivors Empowerment Program (STEP)
What is STEP?
Seniors and Trauma Survivors Empowerment Program (STEP) is a community-based program that helps Vietnamese older adults and their families recover from postwar trauma and succeed in establishing new lives in the United States.
STEP Model
Donate
Thank you for helping BPSOS meet urgent needs TODAY and empower Vietnamese communities for TOMORROW. To Donate Now:Online
Click here to donate with credit/debit cards or electronic checking account transfers through the Network for Good.
By Mail with Check or Money Order Make your check or money order payable to Boat People SOS and mail it to: Boat People SOS - STEP 6066 Leesburg Pike Suite 100 Falls Church, VA 22041-2220
By Corporate Match Contact your personnel department; your employer might add value to your own gift.
BPSOS is not a government agency; our programs and services are made possible primarily through the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations who give voluntary gifts of time and money. Contributions to Boat People SOS (BPSOS), a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Services Code, are tax deductible. Please be sure to request a receipt and include your full name and address.
Partnerships
The Seniors and Trauma Survivors Empowerment Program (STEP) would not be possible without the continued support from federal grants, univeristy affiliations, and community organizations. On behalf of the STEP Team, we'd like to extend our gratitude to the following partners and funders for making our program a reality.
Funders
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMSHA
Board of Advisors
George Mason University Center for the Advancement of Public Health
David Anderson, Ph.D
Rita Chi-Chung, Ph.D
Fred Bemak, Ph.D
Liz Hanfman
The Franklin Psychotherapy Center
Robert Weigl, Ph.D
Fairfax County Community Services Board
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Partnerships
Local faith-based organizations
Northern Virginia Seniors Citizens Association (NOVASCA)
Tuong Van Temple
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Community Organizations
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Community and Recreation
Department of Family Services
Community and Recreation Services- James Lee Senior Center
Vietnamese Seniors Association
Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington
Office of Newcomer Services-REAP
Yorkville Cooperative Board of Directors
Department of Systems Management for Human Services
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Fairfax County Park Authority Park Services Division-Leisure & Wellness Branch
Mental Health Couseling & Information
Mental Health Counseling
The in-house counseling program funded by SAMSHA here at Boat People S.O.S. is designed to provide confidential and effective mental health services to older adults in a safe and caring environment. To be eligible, participants must be 55 years or older, or were part of the re-education camps (HO) program. The program offers Individual Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Couple Therapy, Group Therapy, and Life Skills Training for a variety of problems.
Issues include but are not limited to:
- Elder Care & Family Transitions
- Stress & Pain Management, Depression & Bipolar Mood Disorders Anxiety & Panic & Phobic Disorders
- Separation & Divorce
- Senior Abuse & Neglect, Sexual Abuse & Rape
- Domestic Violence & Anger Management
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Appointment Scheduling
To participate, please contact Ms. Celine Duong at celine.duong@bpsos.org for a prescreening session.
Peer Companion Training
What is Peer Companion Training?
Peer Companions Training is a program that trains a select group of seniors to become Peer Companions and is based on the STEP MODEL. These seniors receive 10 months of training in a large array of skills necessary to work with individuals, groups, and institution in their communities. They facilitate all of the above activities under supervision of trained staff and mental health professionals.
Mental Health Counselor
Mr. Duong Hoang
First round graduates
Ms. Bui Pham Mai
Ms. Dinh Nhu-Nguyen
Ms. Ly Kim-Ha
Ms. Nguyen Hong-Hai
Ms. Nguyen Kim-Oanh
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bui
Mr. Phan Thanh
Ms. Tran Phuong
Ms. Tran Phuong-Lan
Ms. Trieu Kim-Lang
Thich Nu Thanh Lieu
Ms. Vuong Ba-Diep
Instructors
Nguyen Dinh Thang, Ph.D
David Anderson, Ph.D
Rita Chi-Chung, Ph.D
Fred Bemak, Ph.D
Robert Weigl, Ph.D
Toan Pham, Psy.D
Duong Hoang, MS
To participate, please contact Ms. Celine Duong at celine.duong@bpsos.org for a prescreening session.
Family Support Group
Family Support Group
We work closely with family and community members taking care of seniors to equip them with the tools necessary to live a healthy and fulfilling life in the US. We achieve this through educational workshops, referral services such as bilingual mental health counseling, and community involvement through cultural activities.
Keeping the Focus on Vietnamese Seniors
Many individuals arriving to the US are products of war in the 1970s and may still be affected by the trauma inflicted as refugees and asylum seekers. Seniors from the Vietnamese and Vietnamese American community may be isolated in their lives in the US due a several factors:
- linguistic barriers
- cultural differences
- insufficient means of transportation
- out of touch with community
- lack of family support
We are always looking for more communities to conduct workshops and for outreach! Please contact Xuan Le at (703) 538-2190 ext. 206 or email xuan.le@bpsos.org for more information.