The Client Track this year will consist of 8 sessions that will prove to be quite enlightening, interactive, and extremely informative! Highlighted are a few new and exciting tracks that will be featured that you won't want to miss!
Thursday, Dec 7, 2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
The New Disability: Homelessness vis a vis Mental Health – An Interactive Reentry Simulation
Juwanna N. Brown,
Student & Advocate
Shawntelle Fisher,
Founder & CEO, The SoulFisher Ministries
The purpose of this interactive workshop is to raise awareness about the complexities that individuals involved with the criminal justice system encounter when released from jail or prison and to offer an additional perspective when crafting policy recommendations. Participants will experience challenges to successful reentry that individuals recently released from incarceration face, especially men and women who are homeless and have mental health issues. As a result of this simulation experience, individuals will be able to advance equitable justice under a system that does not afford individuals involved with the criminal justice system the opportunity to access adequate services necessary to live a productive life post-incarceration. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to apply the principles of economic justice to the work in their field in ways that will provide sufficient opportunities for recently released individuals with mental illnesses and/or who are homeless to be successfully reintegrated into society.
Friday, Dec 8, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Making Sense of Medicaid, Medicare, and HIPAA
Jennifer Goldberg,
Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging
Mara Youdelman,
Managing Attorney, National Health Law Program
Do you know the difference between Medicaid and Medicare? Need help understanding health care programs? Join us to learn about (1) who is eligible for Medicaid and Medicare; (2) what services they can get; and (3) important protections for consumers. We will also discuss how personal health information for patients is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Friday, Dec 8, 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Making Rights Real: Hot Topics in Housing
Jennifer Berger,
Manager, Legal Aid Attorney, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly
T.J. Sutcliffe,
Director of Income & Housing Policy, The Arc of the United States
Deborah Thrope,
Supervising Attorney, National Housing Law Project
This panel will explore cutting edge topics in housing with a focus on the rights of seniors, people with disabilities, and people who have come in contact with the criminal justice system. Panelists will first present a broad national framework for these issues and discuss what is at risk on a federal level. We will then identify how policies play out locally and what participants can do to defend and expand their rights. Interaction with panelists and each other is highly encouraged, and we will reserve time during the session to share strategies and ideas to make housing rights real.
Saturday, Dec 9, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
LSC and the Client Voice
Julie Reiskin,
Board Member, Legal Services Corporation
James Sandman,
President & CEO, Legal Services Corporation
This session is an annual tradition where LSC hears directly from client board members in the field. We will share what has been done over the past year based on client board member recommendations and listen to client board members' new ideas and recommendations. This year, we specifically want to get feedback on Section 1607 because LSC is considering revising this regulation that addresses how client board members are selected. This is based on feedback in prior sessions. LSC will also report on the client involvement in program visits and discuss ongoing client engagement.
