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| Make an Impact with a Year End Gift |
The new year brings opportunities and challenges.
Southern Legal Counsel’s core mission is to seek systemic reform in order to attain basic human and civil rights for all. We are working to ensure that struggling students have access to a high quality education, people with disabilities have sufficient Medicaid Waiver home services, and persons experiencing homelessness are not subjected to arrest for life-sustaining activities.
With your year-end donation, we will continue to touch the lives of thousands who seek to improve their quality of life in the new year. We seek to eliminate life’s challenges for the people we serve, and increase their opportunities for a richer life.
Your gift is important and will impact each person we serve.
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come.” ~Alfred Tennyson.
Thank you for giving the gift of hope.
Contributions are tax deductible.
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Judge Allows Adults
with Disabilities to Sue State |
Five adults with disabilities who reside in the community and are eligible to receive home and community-based services have been subjected to repeated denials of services, delays or insufficient provision of services. This has placed them at risk of unnecessary institutionalization in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the state agency responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Medicaid Long-Term Care Managed Care Waiver Program (“LTC Waiver Program”), has failed to provide meaningful guidance to ensure that the services would be provided.
SLC filed
Parrales v. Dudek, a federal court action with Disability Rights Florida and Nancy Wright, who is lead counsel. On December 24, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle denied the State of Florida’s motion to dismiss. This order allows plaintiffs to go forward in the case and proceed to a trial set to begin in September 2016.
Specifically, the Court ruled that plaintiffs have alleged sufficient injury to have standing to sue AHCA. And that plaintiffs have stated a claim under the ADA that, due to AHCA’s ineffective implementation and oversight of the LTC Waiver Program, plaintiffs would have to enter a nursing home in order to receive the Medicaid benefits to which they are entitled. Read the
Order here.
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Proposed rules outlawing 'camping' causing a stir, Gainesville Sun, March 17, 2015
The Hippodrome offers discount for helping nonprofits, Gainesville Sun, April 11, 2015
Alachua County lawyers helping local homeless, Gainesville Sun, May 10, 2015
Editorial: Cheers and Jeers, Gainesville Sun, May 16, 2015
Couple cited by city for feeding homeless suing Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach News-Journal, September 16, 2015
One-night production of '8' planned at the Hipp, Gainesville Sun, September 17, 2015
UF Law grad, students work to reform Florida’s public education system, FlaLawOnline, October 5, 2015
Khanh-Lien R. Banko: Holding the state accountable on education, Gainesville Sun, October 18, 2015
Squeezed by state, frail adults fight for in-home care, Miami Herald, November 5, 2015
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| SUPPORT SLC'S WORK |
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To maintain our independence in order to challenge institutional inequities, SLC does not accept federal, state or local government funds.
We really need your help to ensure that SLC has the resources to continue to provide legal and policy advocacy in public interest cases across the state of Florida. SLC is eligible to receive your $350 pro bono contribution.
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SLC's monthly giving program is the easiest way to give and ensure that SLC recieves your ongoing support.
Your recurring donation or one-time gift means, together, we will help people in need.
To sign up, visit southernlegal.org and click "Donate Now," or click the "Donate" button above.
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| SAVE THE DATE |
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What: Rosewood: The Road to Reparations
When: February 4, 2016, @ 6:00 p.m.
Where: UF Hilton Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville FL, 32607
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| BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Robert F. Spohrer, Chair
Elizabeth L. Bevington
Bennett Brummer
Raul A. Cuervo
William S. Graessle
Tim D. Haines
E. Andrus Healy
Berta Hernández-Truyol
Dr. Vivian L. Hobbs
William Kalish
Tiffani G. Lee
Marni Lennon
Barbara Bolton Litten
Dixon Ross McCloy, Jr.
Peg O'Connor
Robert A. Rush
Tom Scarritt
Harry L. Shorstein
The Honorable William A
Von Nortwick, Jr.
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| ATTORNEYS |
Jodi Siegel,
Executive Director
Neil Chonin
Kirsten Clanton
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| THANK YOU TO SLC'S 2015 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS |
Your work helps impact cases involving education, disability rights, homelessness and due process protections.
Deborah E. Cupples
Randall Harper
Eric J. Lindstrom
Timothy McLendon
Maru Opabola
Mara Shlackman
Nancy E. Wright
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| CONTACT DETAILS |
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Southern Legal Counsel
1229 NW 12th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352.271.8890
Fax: 352.271.8347
Email:
slc@southernlegal.org
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Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a Florida statewide not-for-profit public interest law firm that is committed to the ideal of equal justice for all and the attainment of basic human and civil rights. SLC primarily assists individuals and groups with public interest issues who otherwise would not have access to the justice system and whose cases may bring about systematic reform. SLC uses a range of strategies to achieve its goals, including litigation, policy advocacy, and training and technical assistance to lawyers, lay persons and organizations.
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SOUTHERN LEGAL COUNSEL, INC., A NON-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION, IS REGISTERED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, #CH13498, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. SLC IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION.
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