The International Rescue Committee provides services for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities.

Areas of immigration legal assistance:
Adjustment of Status, Consular Processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization, Family-based petitions, Naturalization/Citizenship

Types of immigration legal services provided:
Help completing forms, Filings with USCIS

Non-legal services:
Employment services, ESL, Office Of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded services for trafficking victims, Referrals to other services

Web pages… [read more]

Legal Services of Northern California provides pension counseling at no cost to callers of all ages and income levels who live or have worked in California, Arizona, Nevada or Hawaii. There are no age or income requirements.

LSNC offers legal advice and assistance with:

• Employer-sponsored retirement plans
• Help with understanding rights under the plan
• Claiming benefits
• Locating lost benefits from previous employers
• Working through the claims and appeals process
• Understanding rights as a former or surviving spouse
• Correcting benefit calculations
• Addressing overpayment demands
• And more...

What is a Representative Payee (Rep. Payee)?
An individual or organization that the Social Security Administration (SSA) appoints to receive and manage the RSDI (Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance), SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits of another person, also referred to as a beneficiary. A rep. payee must use the benefits they receive for the use and benefit, and in the best interest of, the beneficiary.

What does OPRABA do?

• Reviews of Rep. Payees
• Educational Visits 
• Initial Onsite Assessment of Fee for Service Organizations
• Corrective Action Plans 
• Trainings 
• Information and Referral to Beneficiaries

How can OPRABA help?

• If you suspect that a rep. payee is misusing or improperly using a beneficiary’s funds, contact OPRABA.
• If you have a rep. payee and would like to learn how to be your own payee, contact OPRABA.
• If you are a  rep. payee and you have questions about your duties, contact OPRABA.

Purpos… [read more]

Gender Health Center programs include counseling services, advocacy, outreach, name & gender change help, and a hormone clinic.

SERVICES
Advocacy Services 
Advocates meet with clients on a bi-weekly or weekly basis to set goals using a strengths-based, client-centered approach. The program works to connect clients with resources and to assist clients in navigating all GHC services when appropriate, such as counseling, name and gender change assistance, health insurance options, economic empowerment program, hormone clinics and legal health clinics.

Name and Gender Change Paperwork Assistance 
Advocates assist clients in filling out name and gender change court paperwork and identity documents, such as driver license, birth certificate, passport and social security changes; become familiar with the court process for changing name and gender; provide information to clients around the process for legal name and gender change.

Covered California Outreach and Education 
GHC is … [read more]

Miracle Flights provides financial assistance for medical air transportation allowing children and adults access to specialized medical treatment and second opinions throughout the United States. Provides air travel via commercial airlines so that children may access specialized, out-of-state medical care and second opinions. Flight assistance is also provided for parents/legal guardians traveling with the patient. Assistance for adult patients may be available based on funding.

Web pages from above with visible url links

• Home - https://miracleflights.org/

Provides flight assistance via commercial airlines for a child and his/her parents/legal guardians, or an adult patient, to retrieve and attend service dog training as required by the service dog organization.

This information is for the 2021 California Wildfire season.

The American Bar Association has a hotline and links to other resources for California Wildfires.

• Hotline: 415-575-3120
• Resource links: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/disaster/resources/disaster_legal_hotlines/
  • FEMA California Wildfires - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4610
  • FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers - https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
  • 8/26/21 - Press Release: Free Legal Assistance Available For California Fire Survivors - https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/disaster/ca-4610-press-release.pdf
  • National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center - https://www.disasterlegalaid.org/
  • DisasterAssistance.gov - https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
  • Attorneys can help on the ABA/Paladin National Disaster Pro Bono Portal - https://aba.joinpaladin.com/aba-disaster-relief/

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.

StrongHearts serves Native American and Alaska Natives impacted by domestic and sexual violence by offering a culturally-appropriate, anonymous and confidential service available 24/7 nationwide. By calling or texting 844-7NATIVE (762-8483), or chatting online at strongheartshelpline.org, survivors, family, friends and partners questioning their own behavior can connect with StrongHearts advocates who provide support and advocacy including:

• Crisis intervention.
• Assistance with safety planning.
• Domestic violence education and information.
• Referrals to Native-centered domestic violence and sexual violence service providers.
• Basic information about health options.
• Support finding a local health facility or crisis center trained in the care of sexual assault survivors and forensic exams.
• General information about jurisdiction and legal advocacy referrals.

Web pages

• Home - https://strongheartshelpline.org/
• FAQs - https://strongheartshelpline.org/about/frequently-asked-questions

Advocates for Disaster Justice is the new era of DisasterLegalAid.org, a groundbreaking national collaboration and legal relief effort that took root in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Under the leadership of Pro Bono Net, Lone Star Legal Aid, the American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono, and the National Aid & Defender Association, Advocates for Disaster Justice has grown into the largest national network of justice advocates and allies working to advance equity, rights, and resilience in communities impacted by climate-driven and other disasters. Since the major disasters of 2017, Pro Bono Net, Lone Star Legal Aid, and our allies have trained more than 5,000 advocates, networked hundreds of organizations to harness the power of shared experience, and mobilized new resources to strengthen the legal response effort in times of crisis.  The team behind Advocates for Disaster Justice: Provides up-to-date resources and offers training to le…

[read more]