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Advocacy

    Results: 13

  • Cerebral Palsy (1)
    YF-1800.1500

    Cerebral Palsy

    YF-1800.1500

    A central nervous system impairment that is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function and, depending on the area of the brain that has been damaged, by one or more of the following: spasms; tonal problems; involuntary movement; disturbances in gait and mobility; seizures; abnormal sensation and perception; impairment of sight, hearing or speech; and intellectual disabilities. There are three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic CP, which is characterized by stiff and difficult movement; athetoid CP (also called dyskinetic CP), which is characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movement; and mixed CP, which is characterized by a combination of symptoms. Some muscles are too tight, and others are too loose, creating a mix of stiffness and involuntary movements. The causes of cerebral palsy include illness during pregnancy, premature delivery and lack of oxygen supply to the baby. In rare cases of acquired cerebral palsy, head injury is the most common cause.
  • Community Action/Social Advocacy Groups (4)
    TD-1600

    Community Action/Social Advocacy Groups

    TD-1600

    Organizations whose members have joined together on a voluntary basis to promote a particular cause or work for the realization of a specific social or political goal.
  • Discrimination Assistance (1)
    FT-1800

    Discrimination Assistance

    FT-1800

    Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or denied normal privileges based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
  • Family Based Services (3)
    PH-2360

    Family Based Services

    PH-2360

    Programs that provide a wide variety of social services that are designed to support healthy family development, improve the family's ability to resolve problems (such as poverty, unemployment, ill health, homelessness, substandard housing, educational difficulties, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, delinquency and physical and developmental problems) and prevent the need for unnecessary placement of children in foster care, group homes, inpatient substance abuse or mental health treatment programs, residential training schools or other alternative environments when family problems reach crisis proportions. Services may include home visiting services that focus on public health issues (especially prenatal), mental health and substance abuse counseling, home management instruction, success in a child care setting, parenting skills development, stress management, tutoring, pregnancy awareness and AIDS awareness; may be available to the community at large, to families at risk for dissolution or those currently in crisis; and may be offered by a single agency or a coalition of agencies that have agreed to provide services according to a coordinated case plan.
  • Family Preservation Programs (2)
    PH-2360.2350

    Family Preservation Programs

    PH-2360.2350

    Programs that provide a variety of short-term, intensive, home-based intervention services for families experiencing a crisis that is so severe that children are at imminent risk for placement outside the family setting. Services, which are aimed at ameliorating the underlying causes of family dysfunction, are generally time-limited, of fairly short duration and available on a 24-hour basis. Also included are other family preservation program models whose programs vary in terms of the population served, the level of intensity of services provided and the length of services. The objective of family preservation programs is to preserve the family as a unit and prevent unnecessary placement of the children in foster care, a group home, an inpatient substance abuse or mental health treatment program, a residential training school or other alternative living arrangement.
  • Group Advocacy (18)
    FP-0500.2500

    Group Advocacy

    FP-0500.2500

    Programs that intervene on behalf of groups of people who have a common grievance against a public or private service provider or who believe that their rights have been violated, and which attempt to reach an equitable settlement without resorting to litigation.
  • Individual Advocacy (26)
    FP-0500.3300

    Individual Advocacy

    FP-0500.3300

    Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.
  • Law Enforcement Services (1)
    FN

    Law Enforcement Services

    FN

    Programs offered by law enforcement agencies and other organizations that provide specific measures for discouraging preventable crime, obtaining information from the public about suspected criminal activity, investigating alleged crimes, analyzing physical evidence, providing support for victims and witnesses of crimes and reducing targeted types of crime.
  • Legal Services (1)
    FT

    Legal Services

    FT

    Programs that provide assistance in the form of advocacy, arbitration, class action litigation, legal counseling, legal representation, mediation, paralegal counseling, self-representation assistance and/or court watching which focus on a particular area of law.
  • Pro Bono Legal Aid Volunteer Opportunities (1)
    PX-1850.4000-650

    Pro Bono Legal Aid Volunteer Opportunities

    PX-1850.4000-650

    Organizations that are actively seeking licensed attorneys who are qualified in a particular area of law (e.g., family law, bankruptcy law, consumer law, landlord/tenant law, intellectual property law) to provide pro bono legal services to low income clients or nonprofit organizations referred for this purpose. Volunteer attorneys may be asked to provide legal information, advocacy or referrals; prepare wills, guardianship/conservatorship papers, advance medical directives and durable powers of attorney; or represent clients in court.
  • Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Disabilities (1)
    FT-1000.6600

    Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Disabilities

    FT-1000.6600

    Programs that provide assistance for individuals with disabilities who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law. Included are federally mandated programs that are part of the formal protection and advocacy system which includes Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) and the Client Assistance Program (CAP); and independent organizations that provide the same types of services. Protection and advocacy programs provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under federal and state laws, for all people with disabilities and endeavor to ensure full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlements, health care, accessible housing and productive employment opportunities. The programs maintain a presence in facilities that care for people with disabilities where they monitor, investigate and attempt to remedy adverse conditions. CAP agencies (many of which are housed within protection and advocacy offices) provide information and assistance for individuals seeking or receiving vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act, including assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies.
  • Special Education Advocacy (2)
    FT-8000.8000

    Special Education Advocacy

    FT-8000.8000

    Programs that work to ensure that children and youth with disabilities receive a free, appropriate, public education often by providing assistance for parents who need support in seeking and obtaining needed early intervention, educational, medical or therapeutic services for their children.
  • Veteran Benefits Assistance (2)
    FT-1000.9000

    Veteran Benefits Assistance

    FT-1000.9000

    Programs that provide assistance for veterans who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law based on service to their country. The programs may help veterans understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are Veteran Services Officers (VSOs) who are trained and accredited by the Veteran's Administration (VA) and can be found in offices specific to each state, the county courthouse, the local VA office and local veteran's rights organizations; as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.