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Breaking the Language Barrier: A Report on English Language Services in Greater Boston.

The Boston Foundation.
Breaking the Language Barrier: A Report on English Language Services in Greater Boston reports Greater Boston's immigrants and the ESOL system designed to serve them. This report notes the availability of ESOL services available to immigrant communities in the Greater Boston area.

MEPA (Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment)

MA DESE
Federal and state laws require that English language learner (ELL) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In keeping with these laws, ELL students participated in…

Executive Order 527. “Establishing the Office of Access and Opportunity."

Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Click the "Go to Website" link below or see PDF for the text of the Executive Order 527 by which Governor Deval Patrick creates the Office of Access and Opportunity, dedicated to ensuring non-discrimination, diversity and equal opportunity in all aspects of state employment, programs,…

POMS SI 02302.200 Charted Threshold Amounts

SSA
Determination of 1619(b) eligibility

Communicating More for Less: Using Translation and Interpretation Technology to Serve Limited English Proficient Individuals

Jessica Sperling, Migration Policy Institute
From MPI's website: "Advances in translation and interpretation technology have given language access professionals a multitude of options for breaking down language barriers. However, with different and seemingly complex types of technologies now available, selecting the right…

2011 SSI Payment Levels and SSDI/SSI Thresholds

Disability Law Center

FACT SHEET: MEDICARE PREMIUMS, DEDUCTIBLES FOR 2011

CMS
Different categories of Medicare beneficiaries will have different Medicare costs in 2011:People who have been paying for their Medicare Part B premiums will continue to pay $96.40.Those newly eligible for Medicare will pay $115.40 (the state will pay this amount if the individual is eligible for…

Link to National Health Care for the Homeless Council Resources on Disability

National Health Care for the Homeless Council

2011 SSI Eligibility, Income Conversions, Deeming Chart

Division of Perinatal Early Childhood & Special Health Needs, MA DPH

Consumer Rights Screening Tool for DV Advocates & Lawyers

National Consumer Law Center & Center for Survivor Agency and Justice
Consumer Rights Screening Tool for DV Advocates & Lawyers (2011) Leah A. Plunkett of National Consumer Law Center & Erika A. Sussman of Center for Survivor Agency and Justice This screening tool aims to:   provide a general overview of common consumer issues with which…

Fact Sheet: 2011 Social Security Changes

SSA
There is no increase in monthly SSDI and SSI benefits in 2011 because there is no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2008 (the last year a COLA was determined), to the third quarter of 2010.

GPO Access (links to CFR, Fed. Reg. , U.S. Code)

U.S. Government

SSA Info on Rep Payee Misuse of Benefits

Office of the Inspector General

Overview of Education Topics on MA DESE site

MA DESE PQA
Frequently asked questions on a wide array of education topics:  contacting Program Quality Assurance at MA DESE; extended school year; special education evaluations and eligibility; homeschooling; restraints; section 504 and contacting the Office for Civil Rights; links to laws and regulations;…

Agenda SSI Coalition Meeting, November 12, 2010

Linda Landry

2011 Medicare Parts A and B Benefits and Gaps

The SHINE Program
Charts that outline benefits and gaps in Medicare coverage.  Refer also to the 2011 Medicare & You handbook for more information about Medicare benefits.

Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods

Department of Health and Human Services
Knowing when you can get Medicare can sometimes be confusing. This tip sheet is designed to help you learn more about enrollment in the different parts of Medicare, including who can sign up, when you can sign up, and how the timing can affect your costs.

Translation Toolkit - Foreign Language Guide

Office of Public Health Strategy and Communications
This document provides information on the top six languages spoken in MA (Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer) and best practices for translating English language materials into these languages.

Plain Language Online Course

Write Clearly
A self-guded learning experience.  Click the "Go to Website" link below to access the online course from the WriteClearly website.

Don't Pay to Borrow Your Own Money: The Risks and Costs of Tax Refund Anticipation Loans

National Consumer Law Center
A brochure for consumers about the tax refund anticipation loans.  Click the "Go To Website" link to download the brochure from NCLC's website. This brochure is available in other languages as well. including Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese,…

A Bill to Stabilize Neighborhoods -- chapter 258 of the Acts of 2010 -- New Massachusetts Foreclosure Law

Massachusetts
On Saturday August 7, Governor Patrick signed into a law “A Bill to Stabilize Neighborhoods” which had been approved by the Legislature on July 27, 2010 . A link to the bill is here. The bill addresses the worsening foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts where there have been 7,431 foreclosures…

Working with an Interpreter

Legal Services of New Jersey
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.

Still Lost in Translation

Make the Road New York & the New York Immigration Coalition
(NY) City Agencies' Compliance with Local Law 73 and Executive Order 120: Examining Progress and Work Still to be Done  

Brief History of Legal Services in Massachusetts

Ken Maciver and Allan Rodgers
A brief history of civil legal services in Massachusetts, written by Ken Maciver (director of Merrimack Valley - North Shore Legal Services) and Allan Rodgers (director of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute).

Links to Consumer Materials About Credit Reports and Credit Repair

MLRI
Links to brochures for consumers about credit reports and credit repair. Truth about Credit Reports/Credit Repair Companies National Consumer Law Center Truth about Credit Reports and Credit Repair Companies (Spanish) National Consumer Law Center

Agenda for SSI Coalition, May 14, 2010

Svetlana Uimenkova

Links to Consumer Information about Foreclosure Prevention

MLRI
Links to brochures about foreclosure prevention. Saving Your Home from Foreclosure National Consumer Law Center Steps Advocates Can Take to Help Prevent Foreclosure National Consumer Law Center Foreclosure Prevention Information and Resources Greater Boston Legal…

Representing Clients Under the Harassment Order Statute, G.L. c. 258E

Mintz Levin, VRLC, DSVC, WBF
A harrassment order statute, M.G.L. c. 258E, was enacted in Massachusetts in 2010.  Under this new law, victims of sexual assault and stalking can obtain protective orders even if they do not satisfy the relationship requirements of M.G.L. c. 209A.  Attached are…

Divorce and the Alternatives

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)
This brochure is designed to provide you with information on divorce and the alternatives to divorce.  The separation of a married couple creates several issues which must be addressed such as: child custody, child support, visitation, and property division.  Although divorce is the most…

Name Changes: Naming Your Children, Recording Your Child's Name, Changing Your Child's Name

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)
This booklet is designed to answer some of the questions you may have about your rights regarding naming your children, recording your children’s names, changing your name, or changing your children’s names.In particular, this booklet focuses on answering the following questions:Deciding…

Information About How to File Papers in Probate and Family Court

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)
How to File Papers in Essex Probate and Family Court A document prepared to give pro se litigants to give an overview of the kinds of cases filed in Essex County Probate & Family Court includes information about procedures related to filing these cases. also…

Medicare: A Primer

The Keiser Family Foundation
This primer explains key elements of the Medicare program, which now provides health coverage to 47 million people -- including 39 million people age 65 and older and another 8 million younger adults with permanent disabilities. It looks at the characteristics of the Medicare population, what…

Health Reform: Key Medicare Changes Effective in 2010

Health Assistance Partnership
HAP recognizes that in the coming months SHIPs will be asked a number of questions about the changes to Medicare under health reform. The new law includes immediate and important changes to the Medicare program that affect access to care for beneficiaries as well as SHIP program operations. Here is…

Health Reform: Key Medicare Changes Effective in 2011

Health Assistance Partnership
HAP recognizes that in the coming months SHIPs will be asked a number of questions about the changes to Medicare under health reform. The new law includes immediate and important changes to the Medicare program that affect access to care for beneficiaries as well as SHIP program operations. Here is…

Health Reform: Key Medicare Changes Effective in 2012 and Beyond

Health Assistance Partnership
HAP recognizes that in the coming months SHIPs will be asked a number of questions about the changes to Medicare under health reform. The new law includes immediate and important changes to the Medicare program that affect access to care for beneficiaries as well as SHIP program operations. Here is…

Kaiser Family Foundation Health Reform Implementation Timeline

Kaiser Family Foundation

Maintenance of Effort Requirement For Medicaid and CHIP due to federal Health Reform

Families USA

Exciting News: National Health Care Reform Signed into Law

Vicky Pulos & Neil Cronin
Wow!  Is it really only two months since the Massachusetts Special Election that seemed to crush all hopes of significant national health reform? Yesterday, the President signed into law the Affordable Care Act of 2010. At last we have a final (or almost final) health reform law addressing some (if…

Community Catalyst's Summary of Senate Health Reform and Reconciliation Bills

Community Catalyst

EOHHS Summary of Health Reform Impact on Massachusetts

EOHHS

SI and SSDI benefits while in a hospital or institution

Linda Landry, DLC
Here's an e-mail response to a question that recently came in from an advocate. I thought it might be useful to a wider audience. 1. People who receive SSDI can continue to receive their SSDI benefits in facilities, whether public or private, unless they are being held there in connection…

Links to Blogs, Online Resources about Social Security

MLRI
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities -- Social Security Task Force:   The Task Force on Social Security monitors activity regarding the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) income support programs. It proactively seeks solutions to issues…

SSI Coalition Agenda, Friday, March 12, 2010

Linda Landry, Svetlana Uimenkova

Your Rights Regarding Access to Mental Health Records in Massachusetts

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee
Click the "Go to Website" link below to download this overview of an individual's rights regarding the privacy of mental health records.

Improving Remote Communication Between Public Benefits Agencies and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals

Cary LaCheen, National Center for Law and Economic Justice
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice has been contacted a few times over the past few years about deaf and hearing impaired individuals who were unable to communicate effectively by phone with government agencies because of restrictive agency policies prohibiting telephone communication…

Substantive Defenses to Consumer Debt Collection Suits

NCLC, LSC, VLP, BBA
Extensive materials from a training on defending debt collection suits.  Topics covered include: Interviewing clients and evaluating casesCollection case procedures in district courtSupplementary processThe training was presented by the National Consumer Law Center, Wilmer Hale Legal…

ACT!! Website on implementation of health reform

ACT!! Coalition
Check out the website of ACT!! (the Affordable Care Today Coalition) for information on implementation of the health care reform law.

Georgetown University's Center for Families and Children Key Medicaid/CHIP Provisions in Federal Health Reform

Georgetown Center for Families and Children

Legislative Drafting Manual (Mass. Senate version)

Mass. Senate Counsel Office
A manual prepared by the Massachusetts Senate Counsel's office to help legislative lawyers and other staff who are drafting or reviewing bills for the Massachusetts Senate. According to the office, "Its purpose is to promote uniformity in drafting style, and to make the resulting statutes…

Framing in Race-Conscious, Antipoverty Advocacy: A Science-Based Guide to Delivering Your Most Persuasive Message

Bill Kennedy, Emily Fisher, and Colin Bailey
Framing builds upon an understanding of the science of cognition that tracks how the brain processes information and prompts certain analytic frames through which facts are sorted. The most effective way to frame a message to achieve an advocacy outcome may differ from the way advocates talk…