Project Description:
Project HEAL hopes to continue providing advocacy and civil legal services to Kennedy Krieger patients and families in adult guardianship (in limited cases) and LRA and SSI/SSDI matters and add formal care coordination services to better meet the needs of patients and families by providing wraparound services to access public benefits and other resources. The proposed project will benefit Kennedy Krieger patients and families—as well as Institute staff members and trainees—by providing representation, limited representation (e.g., brief advice, document review, referrals, information, and resources), case consultations, and professional and community training in the areas of guardianship and LRAs and SSI/SSDI. Language interpretation and material translation will be made available as a part of these services.
Project HEAL's mission is to provide quality advocacy and civil legal services to low- and moderate-income Kennedy Krieger patients and their families to resolve civil legal issues affecting health and family stability. Adult guardianship (in limited cases) and LRAs (e.g., advance directives, advance directives for mental health, powers of attorney, and supported decision-making agreements) promote family stability by allowing individuals with disabilities to include selected people in their decision-making processes. Access to SSI and SSDI benefits promotes financial stability and opens the door for access to other necessary public benefits.
The most effective methodology and approach mirrors Project HEAL's special education representation model, which Project HEAL has implemented since the program's founding in 2005 and uses for the current pilot projects. Project HEAL attorneys provide representation for a below-market rate sliding scale fee based on household size and income. Project HEAL plans to purchase part of two current MCDD staff members' time and effort to provide wraparound services.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
