Counseling Support

Updated: August 2023

Dear Presentation Alumnae,

We are writing to provide an update about the process for utilizing the fund created in 2020 to assist alumnae desiring financial assistance and reimbursement for current and/or past therapy costs related to sexual misconduct experienced during their time at Pres. It has been over 12 months since this resource has been accessed.

This fund was established to promote healing in our community by providing monetary compensation for therapy to those impacted, and we remain committed to providing that support. After three years, Presentation has decided to change the process for accessing the funds, and we wanted to provide the community with advance notice of this transition. 

Effective September 11, 2023, RAINN will no longer administer the hotline to access these resources. Instead, please contact Chérie Somavia, LMFT, Dean of Student Well-being and Safety (formerly: Director of the Office of Prevention for Student Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse; Student Wellness Coordinator) at (669) 356-1150 or csomavia@presentationhs.org. 

As in the past, our third-party claims administrator will provide details on how to receive payments for current and/or historic therapy costs upon completion of the intake process with Ms. Somavia. Please note that all inquiries will be held confidential by Ms. Somavia and funding requests via the third-party administrator are anonymous to PHS. Further details about the process and eligibility are available in the FAQ below.
 

Support for Alumnae remains unchanged: 

  • Pres will continue to assist alumnae or students who attended Pres between 1965-2017 with current and/or past therapy costs. 

  • Pres will reimburse current or past weekly therapy sessions for any treatment recommended by a licensed, qualified mental health professional so long as that treatment appears on RAINN’s list of approved treatment modalities up to $10,000.

If you have any questions about whether a treatment is approved, please contact Ms. Somavia directly at csomavia@presentationhs.org or (669) 356-1150.

If you need immediate crisis intervention, emotional support, information, and resources, you can reach out 24/7 to RAINN at 1-800-656-4673 or online.rainn.org. RAINN can also provide referrals for support in your area.

Pres remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting our alumnae's healing and ensuring our students' safety and well-being. As a reminder, anyone with information about inappropriate conduct that has not already been shared with the investigators may contact Ms. Somavia or me directly at helkins@presentationhs.org, I wish you all continued healing and health.

Sincerely,

Holly Elkins,
President
 

COUNSELING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS: FAQs
EFFECTIVE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023.

Who do I contact to access the funds starting September 11, 2023?
If you believe you qualify, please contact Chérie Somavia, LMFT, Dean of Student Well-being and Safety (formerly: Director of the Office of Prevention for Student Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse; Student Wellness Coordinator) at (669) 356-1150 or csomavia@presentationhs.org. Details on how to receive payments for current and/or past therapy costs will be provided to you by a third-party claims administrator following completion of the intake process with RAINN.

Why did Presentation end the partnership with RAINN for administering the hotline?
When Presentation established the fund three years ago, we committed to evaluating it annually. It has been over 12 months since the fund has been accessed and while we want to continue to provide this resource, the hotline no longer appears necessary. As stewards of the school’s resources, the funds allocated each year to operate the hotline will now be available to support student programming and financial aid. 

The school is committed to respecting the privacy of survivors, and information about individuals who access the hotline or fund will not be shared with additional school personnel by Ms. Somavia or Mr. Fitzgerald.

What are the required qualifications for an approved mental health provider?
Approved providers must be licensed to practice in their state and hold a master’s degree or higher in a mental health discipline.

What is the maximum amount of support available to alumnae or former students for past or current therapy costs?
Pres will reimburse up to $10,000 in past or current therapy costs. Unless otherwise specified, services will be provided for one calendar year. Requests for additional treatment will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

What is the eligibility criteria?
Reimbursement is reserved for former students and alumnae who attended Pres between 1965 and 2017. Pres will provide reimbursement for therapy costs related to students who experienced sexual abuse perpetrated by a Presentation employee. 

What happens when I call Ms. Somavia seeking financial assistance or reimbursement? How will requests for financial assistance or reimbursement be approved?

Ms. Somavia will administer the intake process for all callers seeking services and verify that the caller is eligible. Pres will not have access to callers’ therapy treatment records or other confidential information. 
 
Ms. Somavia will ask callers to provide certain information at intake (e.g., name, date of birth, class year/dates of attendance, current address, phone number, email, the name of the perpetrator, dates of the abuse, a brief description of the nature of the abuse). Ms. Somavia will report incidents to the state as required in accordance with state law but otherwise maintains confidentiality concerning all information received from survivors.

Once Ms. Somavia has completed the intake process and confirmed that the caller is eligible, the caller is automatically approved for financial assistance or reimbursement. Ms. Somavia will connect the caller to a third-party claims administrator, Bernie Fitzgerald, to process timely reimbursement. Mr. Fitzgerald has provided these services with the fund’s inception and previously worked alongside RAINN to administer reimbursement funds.
 
How does this process keep me anonymous to Pres?
The school is committed to respecting the privacy of survivors, and details concerning individuals utilizing the hotline or fund will exclusively remain confidential with Ms. Somovia. Callers identified as approved applicants to access the Pres therapy fund are connected to Bernie Fitzgerald, the independent third-party administrator, to process claims. The claims administrator will not provide Pres with any identifying information about callers or claims.
 
I live outside of the United States. How can I contact Ms. Somavia?
You can reach Ms. Somavia via email at csomavia@presentationhs.org to request that she phone you at a time convenient for you.

How do I access immediate counseling assistance?
We encourage you to search your local community for nearby resources and counseling assistance. Additionally, RAINN runs a national sexual assault hotline in partnership with over 1,000 local service providers. The hotline can be used to access immediate support services, including crisis intervention, information, and resources, at any time by alumnae who were victims of adult sexual misconduct during their time at the school. The hotline can also provide alumni with a referral to a local counselor or therapist. RAINN’s Hotline can be accessed by phone at (800) 656-4673 or online at https://www.rainn.org/.