Provides case management, information and assistance. Typically help with obtaining basic services like shelter, housing, medical care, accessing benefits, and services that enable seniors to stay in their homes.

Social Work Outreach Services offered at Pike Market Senior Center

Provides case management, information and advocacy, as well as assistance with obtaining basic services including housing, medical care, accessing benefits and services that enable seniors to stay in their homes.

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.

Individual Advocacy

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.

Case/Care Management

Programs that teach people who are affected by an issue the skills that are necessary to stand up for themselves, participate in decisions that are being made about their lives and secure the information, opportunities, respect and services to which they are entitled.

Self Advocacy Support

Organizations that make an effort to increase the availability and utilization of community services by specific target populations by providing direct services for targeted individuals in their homes or other convenient locations or by making special efforts to ensure that a particular group is aware of available services and encouraged to participate. Included are programs that do outreach regarding their own services as well as those which encourage a target population to use a wide variety of services.

Outreach Programs

Offers free self-help packets designed for those who need explanative information regarding SSI/SSDI overpayment, continuing disability review (CDR), and age 18 redetermination.

Self-Help Packets offered by Benefits Law Center

Offers free self-help packets designed for those who need explanative information regarding SSI/SSDI overpayment, disability review, and age 18 redetermination.

Programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or who are receiving assistance through SSI and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the Social Security Administration has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

SSI Appeals/Complaints

Programs that train people to represent themselves in court when initiating or responding to a specific type of civil litigation.

Self Representation Assistance

Programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or are receiving assistance through the Social Security Disability program and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the Social Security Administration has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance Appeals/Complaints

Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.

Certificates/Forms Assistance

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).

Welfare Rights Assistance

Encourages additional precautions for domestic violence victims to help them better protect their anonymity, location, and identity. Tips include using: -  Public computers -  A web-based email service -  Private or anonymous browsing

Internet Safety offered at National Domestic Violence Hotline

Encourages additional precautions for domestic violence victims to help them better protect their anonymity, location and identity.

Programs that are designed to make the public aware of the steps that people, especially parents, can take to assure the safety and well-being of their children when they use the Internet. The programs generally provide information about the educational benefits of the Internet; discuss child friendly search engines and service providers; introduce participants to filtering software and other technological solutions that can supplement adult supervision; and warn parents about violent or pornographic websites, unsolicited e-mail, and the dangers of pedophiles, abusers, and other menacing individuals lurking in Internet chat rooms. All Internet safety programs stress the cardinal rule that children/adolescents should never give out personal information, send their picture to people they meet on the Internet or agree to meet strangers in person, however benign they appear to be.