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Report on Child Care from the National Womens Law Center

National Women's Law Center
This report tells the stories of parents and providers who were harmed by state cuts in child care funding. Press Release 2011 Report on child care: STATE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE POLICIES 2011: REDUCED SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES 2005 Report

Benefits Plain Language Sample Documents

LawNY Inc. & Trancend
This document contains sample documents in plain language about specific benefits topics. It has been extracted from a larger document titled, The Essential Plain Language Collection. This is a guide created by LawNY and Trancend for legal aid advocates. The Essential Plain Language Collection will…

Basic Interpreter Training Videos

Clarity Interpreting
These basic training videos, produced by Clarity Interpreting, highlight 7 tips that demonstrate some of the core differences between a trained and untrained interpreter.  The videos give examples of each tip through a recorded interpreted encounter. The 7 Tips include: Body…

Diagnostic Bias and Conduct Disorder: Improving Culturally Sensitive Diagnosis

Lauren Mizock and Debra Harkins
From the article: Disproportionately high rates of Conduct Disorder are diagnosed in African American and Latino youth of color. Diagnostic bias contributes to overdiagnosis of Conduct Disorder in these adolescents of color. Following a diagnosis of Conduct Disorder, adolescents of color face…

Spotlighting Equity Series

NCLER
A video series where NCLER interviews legal services professionals across the country about their efforts to advance equity for older adults. Tune in to learn from your peers in the aging and legal services space and access replicable models to serve marginalized older adults in your community.

Fact Sheet: Key Information for Massachusetts Lawyers and Other Child Advocates About Free Meals for Foster Children

MLRI
MLRI fact sheet about important provisions in the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which ensure that children in foster care can access free meals in schools and day care, and changes in the law allowing other children in the home to access free or reduced-price meals.

MassHealth Drug Copayment Increase: Letter for October 1st

MassHealth

Clothing Allowance Restored for September 2011

MLRI
We just learned from DTA that the full $150/child clothing allowance will be paid in September 2011.Thanks to your advocacy, the Legislature and the Governor prioritized restoration of the clothing allowance if revenues improved. There has in fact been an increase in revenues over projections and…

Six Ways That States and School Districts Can Make It Easier For Children in Foster Care to Get Free Meals as School

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
How states and school districts can take advantage of new opportunities resulting from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to assist children in foster care by establishing effective systems for enrolling eligible children in free meal programs.  Click the "Go to…

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act 2008

Center for Law and Social Policy
Center for Law and Social Policy's (CLASP's) information section on supporting kinship families including the Fostering Connections to Success Act.  Click the "Go to Website" link below to access these resources.  

MLRI’S Child Advocacy: Achieving Stability & Opportunity for Low-Income Children in Massachusetts

MLRI
An overview of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute's advocacy work on behalf of children.

New Process for Handling Disability Supplements (EOM 11-06)

Office of Medicaid
New Process for Handling Disability Supplements is described in the attached  Eligibility Operations Memo

Living Trusts

National Consumer Law Center
Two brochures prepared by the National Consumer Law Center about living trusts. Tips for Seniors on Living Trusts (brochure for consumers) -- This fact sheet has basic information about living trusts and wills, and describes some of the most common scams.Avoiding Living Trust Scams: …

Mapping America: Every City, Every Block

New York Times
This easy to use mapping tool browses local data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, based on samples from 2005 to 2009. Because these figures are based on samples, they are subject to a margin of error, particularly in places with a low population, and are best regarded as…

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

MLRI and WMLS
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) may be available for those in a federal disaster area whose employment has been lost or interrupted due to the disaster.  In particular, people who are self-employed may be eligible for DUA benefits, even if they would not otherwise be eligible for…

Proving Your Identity After a Disaster

Mass Justice Project
A fact sheet about proving your identity after a disaster.  Click the "Go to Website" link below, to download the fact sheet from MassLegalHelp.org

Consumer Rights for DV Survivors in Massachusetts

National Consumer Law Center
Consumer Rights for Domestic Violence Survivors, National Consumer Law Center, (2011) "Many victims and survivors of domestic violence have financial difficulties. This is common and nothing to be ashamed of. Perhaps your abuser handled all the money in the household, and you are not sure…

Serving LEP Clients 2011 Conference Virtual Handout

Language Access Coalition
The following is a virtual handout including links to many useful LEP resources compiled for the Language Access Coalition's June 3, 2011 LEP Conference. Conference Materials Handout from Michael Mulé Handout from U.S. Census-Boston Region: Your Community by Numbers Conference…

Serving LEP Clients 2011 Conference Packet

Language Access Coalition
This is a digital copy of the materials handed out at the LEP Conference on June 3, 2011.

Most Commonly Spoken Languages in Massachusetts LEP Population

Language Access Coalition
These documents contain easy-to-read graphs and tables made with information from the U.S. Census, American Community Survey, Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over for the United States, April 2010.

Education of Homeless Children & Youth

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Education of Homeless Children and Youth- The Guide to Their Rights  Published by National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (2011) ABOUT THIS BOOKLET More than 1.35 million children and youth experience homelessness each year. These young people may be living on the streets, but…

Just for Youth: Advocating for Youth in the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee
  The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee's DYS Project has released the on-line version of the Third Edition of "Just for Youth: Advocating for Youth in the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services." This edition incorporates changes in DYS policy and practice,…

Medicare Beneficiary Alert: Are You a Hospital Inpatient?

Medicare Advocacy Project
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, Medicare can pay for up to 100 days of care in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) such as a nursing home.  Unless you are in a Medicare Advantage plan which allows otherwise, to qualify for Medicare coverage, among other criteria, you must have a qualifying…

SSI Coalition Agenda, May 20, 2011

Linda Landry, Svetlana Uimenkova

White Fragility

Robin DiAngelo
White people in North America live in a social environment that protects and insulates them from race-based stress. This insulated environment of racial protection builds white expectations for racial comfort while at the same time lowering the ability to tolerate racial stress, leading to what I…

ABA HomeFront

American Bar Association
The American Bar Associations website about legal resources for military families.  Features an Information Center with publications and resources on a variety of legal topics that military families may encounter, as well as a Pro Bono Center to connect civilian attorneys to pro bono legal…

Treasury Rule Effective May 1, 2011 Protects Direct Deposits of Certain Federal Benefits from Garnishment

MLRI
Effective May 1, 2011, a new interim Treasury rule goes into effect that prevents banks from freezing and paying over money in a bank account pursuant to a court order where the bank account contains deposits from Social Security, SSI, veterans and other federal benefits, even if money from…

Expanding Access to Justice Through Class Action Residuals and Other Court Awards

Massachusetts IOLTA Committee
Three reports for Massachusetts Judges, Legal Services Providers and Litigants: Information for Massachusetts Judges - Effects of the SJC's Amendment to Mass. R. Civ. P. 23 Toolkit for Legal Services Providers on How to Use the SJC's Amendment to Mass. R. Civ. P. 23 Toolkit…

Taking Control of Your Future: A Legal Checkup

Massachusetts Bar Association
"Taking Control of Your Future: A Legal Checkup," is the MBA's resource guide on a wide range of legal issues affecting the lives of seniors. A group of volunteers from the MBA's Probate Law Section Council assisted in preparing this revised and expanded 2011 edition, which was distributed to all…

An Imperative for Change: Bridging Special and Language Learning Education to Ensure a Free and Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment for ELLs with Disabilities in Massachusetts

Maria de Lourdes B. Serpa
A report published by the Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy outlining analysis and recommendations for providing FAPE in the least restrictive environment for ELLs that have disabilities.

Military combat pay not countable for Food Stamps

MLRI
Military Combat Pay Not Countable in Food Stamps:  MLRI has received calls regarding treatment of combat pay for individuals in the US military and their dependents.  A number of these military service members have their benefits and pay deposited in joint accounts with spouses or…

Housing Discrimination - Massachusetts (LGBTQ)

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders
Click the "Go to Website" link below to download this publication, which discusses issues surrounding housing discrimination and how to counter them, from GLAD's website.

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

NCHE
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is a federally funded information and technical assistance center at SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). NCHE hosts the Homeless Education Listserv to help administrators, educators, advocates, and service…

What "Fair Housing" Means for People with Disabilities

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Click the "Go to Website" link below to download the booklet from the Bazelon Center website.

Bullying and Harassment Resources

Massachusetts Advocates for Children
In May, 2010, the Massachusetts legislature passed anti-bullying legislation which took effect immediately. The following are links to resources on this topic. ChapterCCMassachusetts anti-bullying statute, Chapter 71 Section 37O. Massachusetts statute that includes information on…

Massachusetts Homestead Protection Law (effective March 16, 2011)

NCLC and MLRI
On March 16, 2011, a new Massachusetts Homestead law went into effect.  It completely revised and modernized Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 188, sections 1-10.  Here are some of the important highlights:​ Link to the new law Questions and Answers about the Homestead Act…

SNAP Caseload Increase in Massachusetts by County: July 2010 to January 2011

MLRI

For Elder and Disabled Clients: new laws to protect their money and assets

NCLC
New laws to protect money and property of the elderly and the disabled go into effect shortly.   Here are the highlights: Special protection under homestead law As of March 16, 2011, homeowners who are disabled or age 62 or older have three choices in connection with the new homestead…

Consumer Protection Law in Massachusetts

MLRI
Links about 93A, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection law: Consumer protection law summary  (Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs) Taking action fact sheet for consumer, and sample demand letter (Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs) Guide to Consumer Credit (see page…

TANF and TAFDC in Massachusetts

Deborah Harris, MLRI
An overview of the federal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) block grant as it is implemented in Massachusetts, including an explanation of the funding stream, state maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements, and what types of expenditures the state can use the TANF grant…

New Personal Property Exemption Laws Effective April 7, 2011

NCLC
On April 7, 2011, new Massachusetts laws which expand personal property exemptions go into effect.  The new laws redefine the money and personal property a creditor cannot reach to satisfy a debt.  The most significant new personal property exemptions are as follows:a car up to $7,500 in…

Breaking the Language Barrier: A Report on English Language Services in Greater Boston.

The Boston Foundation.
Breaking the Language Barrier: A Report on English Language Services in Greater Boston reports Greater Boston's immigrants and the ESOL system designed to serve them. This report notes the availability of ESOL services available to immigrant communities in the Greater Boston area.

MEPA (Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment)

MA DESE
Federal and state laws require that English language learner (ELL) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In keeping with these laws, ELL students participated in…

Executive Order 527. “Establishing the Office of Access and Opportunity."

Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Click the "Go to Website" link below or see PDF for the text of the Executive Order 527 by which Governor Deval Patrick creates the Office of Access and Opportunity, dedicated to ensuring non-discrimination, diversity and equal opportunity in all aspects of state employment, programs,…

Materials related to emerging issues with electronic benefit cards and new benefit payment methods

NCLC, Shriver Center, Consumer's Union
On February 3, 2011, the Shriver Center, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Consumers Union hosted a free webinar to discuss the differences between various electronic benefit payment methods and investigate the implications of the new trend toward electronic payment cards (EPCs) for…

POMS SI 02302.200 Charted Threshold Amounts

SSA
Determination of 1619(b) eligibility

Communicating More for Less: Using Translation and Interpretation Technology to Serve Limited English Proficient Individuals

Jessica Sperling, Migration Policy Institute
From MPI's website: "Advances in translation and interpretation technology have given language access professionals a multitude of options for breaking down language barriers. However, with different and seemingly complex types of technologies now available, selecting the right…

SSA Info on Rep Payee Misuse of Benefits

Office of the Inspector General

2011 SSI Payment Levels and SSDI/SSI Thresholds

Disability Law Center

Link to National Health Care for the Homeless Council Resources on Disability

National Health Care for the Homeless Council