Advocacy & Assistance

Results: 37

• Advocacy (4)
  FP-0500

  Advocacy

  FP-0500
  
  Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals and/or groups to ensure that they receive the benefits and services for which they are eligible and that organizations within the established service delivery system meet the collective needs of the community; that attempt to marshal public support for a particular issue or cause; or that seek to influence legislation, local ordinances or administrative rulings in order to benefit specific interest groups or achieve specific social, political or environmental goals.
• Appliance Donation Programs (3)
  TI-1800.3000-050

  Appliance Donation Programs

  TI-1800.3000-050
  
  Programs that accept new or reconditioned refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washing machines, clothes dryers and other large appliances, refurbish them if necessary, and keep them for use in their own programs, donate them to other community-based organizations for distribution to the people they serve, or sell them to raise money for agency programs.
• Bedding/Linen Donation Programs (1)
  TI-1800.3000-100

  Bedding/Linen Donation Programs

  TI-1800.3000-100
  
  Programs that accept new or secondhand sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bedspreads, towels and other similar household essentials, refurbish them if necessary, and keep them for use in their own programs, donate them to other community-based organizations for distribution to the people they serve, or sell them to raise money for agency programs.
• Benefits Assistance (1)
  FT-1000

  Benefits Assistance

  FT-1000
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible. The programs may help people 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 benefits administration staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are benefits counseling organizations that offer a range of advocacy services and legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.
• Case/Care Management (39)
  PH-1000

  Case/Care Management

  PH-1000
  
  Programs that develop plans for the evaluation, treatment and/or care of individuals who, because of age, illness, disability or other difficulties, need assistance in planning and arranging for services; which assess the individual's needs; coordinate the delivery of needed services; ensure that services are obtained in accordance with the case plan; and follow up and monitor progress to ensure that services are having a beneficial impact on the individual. Case management is a collaborative process characterized by communication, advocacy and resource management to promote high quality, cost-effective interventions and outcomes.
• Charities/Grantmaking Organizations (3)
  TD-1200

  Charities/Grantmaking Organizations

  TD-1200
  
  Organizations that solicit contributions, endowments and other financial support from public and private sources which are used directly by the organization to provide human services for eligible residents of the community or which are utilized to provide the total or supplementary financial support for human service programs of community agencies and organizations. Also included are governmental and quasi-governmental entities that manage the allocation of public monies to public and private human service providers.
• Club Membership Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800.1500

  Club Membership Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800.1500
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been denied an opportunity to join the service group, club, fraternal organization or other association of their choice based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
• Community Action Agencies (1)
  TD-1100.1400

  Community Action Agencies

  TD-1100.1400
  
  Private, nonprofit human service and advocacy organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that provide emergency assistance to people in crisis; address the causes of poverty through programs that fight unemployment, inadequate housing, poor nutrition and lack of educational opportunity; and provide training in advocacy skills. Community Action Agencies (CAAs), also known as Community Action Programs (CAPs), operate a variety of core services in the communities they serve. Included are GED and ESL education, job training programs, Head Start and day care, weatherization and energy assistance programs, health services, services for older adults (e.g., Foster Grandparents and RSVP), emergency food assistance and homelessness prevention programs. They are also involved in affordable housing creation and renovation and small business assistance.
• Comprehensive Information and Referral (12)
  TJ-3000.1500

  Comprehensive Information and Referral

  TJ-3000.1500
  
  Programs that maintain information about the full range of human services and which function as the primary source of information about and linkage to human service providers in the community.
• Conservation (1)
  JD-1500

  Conservation

  JD-1500
  
  Programs that protect our natural resources from abuse, neglect, waste or exploitation and preserve their availability for future generations.
• Consumer Assistance and Protection (1)
  DD

  Consumer Assistance and Protection

  DD
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance for consumers who need assistance in managing their financial resources, evaluating competitive products and services and choosing the most favorable option, understanding their rights as consumers and seeking redress when they believe their rights have been violated.
• Crime Victim Safety Planning (4)
  FN-1900.2000

  Crime Victim Safety Planning

  FN-1900.2000
  
  Programs that help people who are experiencing abuse, exploitation, harassment or are otherwise at risk of violence develop and adapt a personalized, practical plan that can help them anticipate and avoid dangerous situations and know the best way to react when they find themselves in danger. Some programs may target special populations such as victims of domestic violence or human trafficking.
• Crime Victim Support (1)
  FN-1900

  Crime Victim Support

  FN-1900
  
  Programs whose objective is to help victims of crimes and their families recover from the trauma of their experience, get medical assistance when required, make their way through the legal system, have an opportunity to provide input to parole or clemency hearings, take appropriate steps, where relevant, to avoid becoming re-victimized, access the benefits to which they are entitled and rebuild their lives.
• Customer Service Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800.1600

  Customer Service Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800.1600
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or denied normal privileges by a commercial establishment or other facility that serves the public based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. Included are establishments that serve food and drink (e.g., restaurants, bars), places of lodging (e.g., inns, hotels, motels); gathering places (e.g., auditoriums, convention centers, lecture halls); entertainment venues (e.g., theaters, concert halls, sports stadiums); sales or rental establishments (shopping centers, grocery stores, video rental outlets); service establishments (e.g., laundromats, dry cleaners, banks, barber shops, beauty shops, travel services, shoe repair services, funeral parlors, gas stations, offices of accountants or lawyers, insurance offices); public transportation terminals; depots or stations; recreation/exercise establishments (e.g., parks, zoos, amusement parks, gymnasiums, health spas, bowling alleys, golf courses); and social service centers (e.g., child care centers, senior centers, homeless shelters, food banks/pantries, adoption agencies).
• Education Advocacy Groups (1)
  TD-1600.1770

  Education Advocacy Groups

  TD-1600.1770
  
  Organizations that promote a particular practice like bilingual education, support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that will result in specific types of educational reform or other improvements in the educational system, or support specific changes in local educational institutions that will improve the delivery of services to local students.
• Education Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800.1800

  Education Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800.1800
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe they have been denied equal access to student loans or scholarships, or to educational programs at preschool, elementary, secondary, vocational, postsecondary, postgraduate or professional school levels based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
• Electronics/Small Appliance Donation Programs (2)
  TI-1800.3000-180

  Electronics/Small Appliance Donation Programs

  TI-1800.3000-180
  
  Programs that accept new or reconditioned radios, television sets, microwave ovens, fans, heaters, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, small kitchen appliance and other similar equipment, refurbish them if necessary, and keep them for use in their own programs, donate them to other community-based organizations for distribution to the people they serve, or sell them to raise money for agency programs.
• Ethnic Advocacy Groups (1)
  TD-1600.3100-200

  Ethnic Advocacy Groups

  TD-1600.3100-200
  
  Organizations that support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that protect and promote the rights and interests of one or more specific ethnic groups.
• Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Issues (2)
  YZ-2500

  Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Issues

  YZ-2500
  
  Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of GLBT individuals and their interests. The GLBT population includes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender individuals, intersexed individuals, gender questioning youth and others with gender identity issues.
• General Benefits Assistance (6)
  FT-1000.2500

  General Benefits Assistance

  FT-1000.2500
  
  Programs that focus broadly on helping individuals who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible rather than offering more specialized services relating to a particular type of benefit.
• Genetic Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800.2500

  Genetic Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800.2500
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who have been denied health insurance coverage or have been treated differently than their coworkers by their employer as a result of genetic testing revealing a gene mutation that increases the risk that the individual has an inherited disorder. Genetic information includes information about an individual's genetic tests, information about the genetic test of a family member, family medical history, requests for and receipt of genetic services by an individual or a family member, and genetic information about a fetus carried by an individual or family member or of an embryo legally held by an individual or family member using assisted reproductive technology. The development of genetic tests promised to give patients new power to create personalized ways of detecting, treating and preventing disease. But without protection from discrimination, some patients have been reluctant to undergo genetic testing or participate in genetic research.
• Health Related Advocacy Groups (1)
  TD-1600.2570

  Health Related Advocacy Groups

  TD-1600.2570
  
  Organizations that are dedicated to protecting and improving the quality and affordability of health and long term care for all individuals and advocating for changes in the health care system that will achieve these goals; or which advocate more broadly for legislation and other measures such as bans on smoking that have a positive impact on public health. Specific issues may include extending the reach of childhood immunization programs, expanding services for people with specific disabilities or health conditions, funding medical research, supporting or opposing stem cell research, establishing the liability of managed health care organizations and nursing facilities for the consequences of their decisions, providing a prescription drug benefit for the elderly, passing a powerful patient's bill of rights, advocating for universal health care or taking a position on the merits of specific medical procedures or forms of treatment.
• Homebuyer/Home Purchase Counseling (4)
  BH-3700.3000

  Homebuyer/Home Purchase Counseling

  BH-3700.3000
  
  Programs that help people who want to purchase a home evaluate their readiness for homeownership, shop for housing that meets their needs, resolve potential credit problems, analyze specific home purchase offers, obtain a mortgage loan with advantageous interest rates and an affordable monthly payment, and complete the paperwork to close the loan and complete the sale. Also included are programs that provide assistance for people who want to refinance a home.
• Housing Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800.3000

  Housing Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800.3000
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been denied an opportunity to purchase, lease or rent the home or apartment of their choice due to their age, gender, family composition (including families with children under the age of 18 and pregnant women), race or color, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status, actions that are prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the federal Fair Housing Act Amendments Act of 1988 in the U.S. Federal fair housing law also extends limited protection to recovering alcoholics who actively and regularly participate in a medically based treatment or AA program, and people with a drug use disorder including those who have prior convictions for illegal drug use (but not for drug dealing or manufacture). Assistance may also be available to other individuals who are protected from housing discrimination by state or local laws with a broader set of protected categories, or which cover properties that are exempt from federal fair housing laws but are protected under state law.
• Housing Search Assistance (1)
  BH-3900.3100

  Housing Search Assistance

  BH-3900.3100
  
  Programs that assign a staff member to assist people who are looking for housing to survey the available residences and to choose and obtain the most suitable option.
• Immigrant Benefits Assistance (1)
  FT-1000.3300

  Immigrant Benefits Assistance

  FT-1000.3300
  
  Programs that provide assistance for non-citizens who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining access to the government-sponsored entitlement programs and social services for which they are eligible including housing programs, employment assistance and job training, medical assistance, and other government entitlements. The program may help these individuals understand the eligibility criteria for benefits and services, the benefits/services available, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with benefits administration and social service staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are benefits counseling organizations that offer a range of advocacy services and legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.
• Individual Advocacy (1)
  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.
• Kitchenware Donation Programs (4)
  TI-1800.3000-350

  Kitchenware Donation Programs

  TI-1800.3000-350
  
  Programs that accept new or secondhand dishes, utensils, pots and pans, food storage containers and other cookware and keep them for use in their own programs, donate them to other community-based organizations for distribution to the people they serve, or sell them to raise money for agency programs.
• Outsourcing/Contracted Services (1)
  TO-6800

  Outsourcing/Contracted Services

  TO-6800
  
  Programs that contract with nonprofit organizations, small businesses and other groups to assume operational responsibility for one or more specific functions generally regarded as internal such as payroll, billing and collections, information system management, financial resources management, legal services, marketing or human resources that the organization does not have the expertise or resources to manage themselves.
• Personal Health Care Advocate Services (1)
  LH-6300.6550

  Personal Health Care Advocate Services

  LH-6300.6550
  
  Programs that help people navigate through the maze of doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, outpatient centers, insurance and payment systems, patient-support organizations and other components of the health care system with the objective of supporting timely delivery of quality care and ensuring that patients, survivors and families are satisfied with their encounters with the health care system. Personal health care advocates are trained health care workers, often nurses, or volunteers familiar with the health care system who work independently of any health care institution. They help patients identify specialists, coordinate appointments with providers to assure timely delivery of diagnostic and treatment services, provide "cheat sheets" of questions, and lay out the choices patients have in plain English. They may also ensure that appropriate medical records are available at scheduled appointments, accompany patients to medical appointments, arrange language translation or interpretation services, facilitate financial support and help with paperwork, negotiate insurance claims, arrange transportation and/or child/elder care, provide access to clinical trials and facilitate linkages to follow-up services. Some programs contract with employers to serve as personal advocates for employees who are ill. Others work exclusively with individuals who have specific illnesses, e.g., cancer.
• Predatory Lending Assistance (1)
  DM-1800.6400

  Predatory Lending Assistance

  DM-1800.6400
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe they are victims of unscrupulous lending institutions that have pressured them into signing a loan agreement they cannot afford. Predatory lending tactics include high pressure sales techniques; misleading or fraudulent direct mail campaigns; failure to disclose unusually high interest rates, hidden transaction costs, excessive fees and punitive penalty clauses such as balloon payments; and loan agreements that are based on home equity rather than a realistic ability to repay. Predatory lenders frequently target the most vulnerable consumers including older adults, low income individuals, and people residing in communities underserved by traditional banking institutions.
• Public/Subsidized Housing Appeals Assistance (1)
  FT-1000.6700

  Public/Subsidized Housing Appeals Assistance

  FT-1000.6700
  
  Programs that provide legal assistance (including advice and representation in administrative hearings) for individuals whose application for public or subsidized housing has been denied or whose rent subsidy benefits have been terminated in situations where they believe that their rights under applicable housing laws have been violated.
• Shoe Donation Programs (1)
  TI-1800.1500-800

  Shoe Donation Programs

  TI-1800.1500-800
  
  Programs that accept new or secondhand shoes and other footwear, repair them if necessary, and keep the shoes for use in their own programs, donate them to shelters and other community-based organizations for distribution to the people they serve, or sell them to raise money for agency programs.
• Specialized Information and Referral (15)
  TJ-3000.8000

  Specialized Information and Referral

  TJ-3000.8000
  
  Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.
• System Advocacy (1)
  FP-0500.8000

  System Advocacy

  FP-0500.8000
  
  Programs that seek changes in community conditions, structures or institutions when modifications in the service delivery system as a whole are required to ensure the adequate availability of essential community services, to contribute to human growth and development and to prevent unwitting support of conditions which are injurious to individuals and families who are residents. The objective of system advocacy is to make changes that are required to benefit the community as a whole rather than focusing on the needs of a particular individual, family or group of residents.
• Veteran Education Benefits (1)
  HL-8000.1800-900

  Veteran Education Benefits

  HL-8000.1800-900
  
  Programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or other organizations that provide educational financial assistance for veterans and service personnel and their eligible dependents. Veterans and service personnel who served on active duty between January 31, 1955 and January 1, 1977 for specified periods of time are eligible for a variety of education benefits under the GI Bill including a stipend for tuition assistance at approved educational institutions. Veterans and service personnel who entered active duty after January 1, 1977 may participate in a voluntary contributory plan in which the individual's savings for a future education are administered and augmented by the government. Partial educational assistance is also available to the survivors of deceased or disabled veterans whose death or permanent and total disability was service-connected; and to the spouses and children of servicemen and women who have been listed for more than 90 days as missing in action, captured in the line of duty or forcibly detained by a foreign power.
• Welfare Rights Assistance (3)
  FT-1000.9500

  Welfare Rights Assistance

  FT-1000.9500
  
  Programs that provide assistance for prospective or current public financial assistance recipients who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits to which they are entitled by law under various income support entitlement programs. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, how much they can work without affecting their benefits (for some programs), 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 public assistance benefits staff; and/or represent them in administrative hearings or judicial litigation. Included are welfare rights organizations that offer a range of advocacy services as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance. Entitlement programs include (but are not limited to) General Relief (GR), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).