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SEOLS Receives Major Grant to Aid Children and Youth Impacted by Opioid Crisis

SEOLS • Nov 13, 2019

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Victims of Crime has awarded us a $750,000 grant to assist children and youth who are victims of crime as a result of the opioid crisis. Ohio’s child welfare system has seen a 19 percent increase in the number of children removed from parental care since 2010 and now has nearly 15,000 children in custody.


The funding will allow SEOLS to join with many community partners to create the Appalachian Ohio Children’s Victim Assistance and Prevention Project, which will focus on addressing the gap in crime victim services, work to expand existing resources and create new strategies to provide services to children impacted by the epidemic. Partners in this multi-county effort will include Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership, and Public Affairs, Muskingum Valley Health Center, The Counseling Center, CRC Kinship Care, Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, Sojourners Care Network, and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati.


The project, funded for three years, will assist children and youth from infancy to 18-years-old living in Adams, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Highland, Hocking, Jefferson, Lawrence, Morgan, Muskingum, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties. Appalachian Ohio, historically the poorest region in the state, is considered by many to be the epicenter of the opioid crisis.



“This collaboration will include community-based organizations across the targeted counties with years of experience in supporting and providing evidence-based, trauma-informed care for children and youth victims of crimes,” said SEOLS attorney Robin Bozian, who is the project manager. “We’re eager to partner with these experts in order to help children whose lives have been turned upside down by opioid epidemic.”

By SEOLS 15 Aug, 2019
More than 76,000 Ohioans participated in the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Amnesty Initiative, a six-month pilot program which waived eligible driver’s license reinstatement fees for low-income individuals, according to Moving Forward , a report released by the Ohio Poverty Law Center. Intended to address the barriers keeping thousands of Ohioans from getting a valid license, the Amnesty Initiative created an opportunity for legal aid organizations to partner with the BMV, Child Support agencies, Job and Family Service offices, volunteer attorneys and local judges and clerks to assist individuals in taking part in the program. The groups hosted free clinics around the state where those with suspended license could receive a personalized plan for getting back on the road legally. SEOLS organized free clinics in several counties where those with suspended license could receive a personalized plan for getting back on the road legally. “Because navigating the reinstatement process can be confusing and burdensome, our primary goals were to give each client an individualized roadmap to reinstatement, and to finish as many steps on that list as possible at the clinic,” said SEOLS attorney Ann Roche, who works in the Newark office. “Through our volunteer attorneys, clients received tailored advice on their next steps to getting back on the road legally. ” The program was beneficial for drivers and the state, she said. Low-income Ohioans saved more than $63 million during the Amnesty Initiative and the BMV collected $3.6 million in fines and fees. The spirit of cooperation among the entities organizing the clinics was remarkable, said Perry County Municipal Judge Dean Wilson. He helped organize a clinic in his rural county, where about 85 percent of the people who come before the court are indigent. “As a member of the OSBA Board of Governors involved with policy and legislative tracking, I was well in-tune with what the objective of the program was. I saw its success in Franklin and Perry counties,” he said. “Receptiveness is what makes the program work. When everyone is on board with the mission and works together to help these people reinstate, it makes a significant impact.” Gwendy Holloway, a Newark resident who attended a clinic in Licking County, had 20-year-old fines that were preventing her from getting a license and was unclear how to address them. The BMV waived $700 in fees and she left the clinic eligible to take her driver’s license test. “I hadn’t been able to pay on those for years,” she said. “The clinic was good. There were a lot of people there ready to answer questions and help.”  Ninety percent of individuals that sought help through the program, which ran from Jan. 31 to July 31, received it. Suspensions related to alcohol or drug abuse or a deadly were not eligible for the Amnesty Initiative. Individuals who receive SNAP benefits were eligible for fee waivers. The average waived per person was $1,270. Individuals who do not receive food assistance were eligible for fee reductions. The average reduction was $789.
By SEOLS 16 Jan, 2019
Ohio announces that March SNAP benefits will be issued in two installments.  As a result of the February SNAP benefits being issued early Ohio is adjusting the March benefit issuance schedule. Eligible SNAP families will receive half of their March benefits on February 22, 2019, and the rest of the benefits will be issued on the normal March issuance date.
By SEOLS 14 Jan, 2019
Area attorneys give expertise to those who might not be able to afford it The free legal clinics held monthly in Marietta for those who can’t afford legal representation rely on a network of local attorneys willing to give their time. Among them is Jim Addison, of Devola, who helped get the clinics up and running decades ago. “Jim Addison was a critical part of the team that put together the legal clinic,” said Robin Bozian, project managing attorney at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, which assists in the clinics. ” It was done in conjunction with SEOLS and our organization covers all costs associated with the clinic and private attorneys are covered by our malpractice insurance.” The program served 209 individuals in 2017. It relies on a networks of attorneys, and more are needed, said Bozian. Those who are assisted are very appreciative, she said. Some of the comments received from recent clients include that the service gave them peace of mind and that they now understand their rights. “I feel better just knowing someone cares,” another said. The clinics began when the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation encouraged legal services throughout the state to engage in efforts to involve the private bar in providing services to low-income individuals. Addison said at the time he thought the cause was important was happy to lend a hand. He is still helping, and will be on hand at the next free clinic this Wednesday. Question: I was told you were one of the attorneys who helped establish these free clinics. How long have we had them? Answer: I would say at least 20 years.  Click here to read the entire article at The Marietta Times
By SEOLS 03 Jan, 2018
SEOLS staff attorney Natasha Plumly recently provided testimony about proposed changes to Ohio’s child support law. This Cincinnati Enquirer article details issues with our current system and quotes Attorney Plumly’s analysis of its impact. “In general, Ohio’s lower-income parents would pay less for child support and those making more money would pay more under the proposed changes. For example, a parent making $16,800 a year would owe about $3,000 less in child support each year, according to an analysis by Natasha Plumly, a staff attorney with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. At what income level does that swap occur? It’s difficult to say because of all the factors that go into how much each parent pays. However, Plumly’s analysis showed those making $40,000 owed less and those making $73,000 owed more.”  Ohio’s child support system: Everyone agrees it’s broken. But a fix has taken 25 years – and counting.
By SEOLS 19 Nov, 2015
Area attorneys are helping out their community, giving advice without a price. Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, and the Washington County Bar Association, are teaming up to provide free advice clinics to the Washington County area. Attorneys say while they get funding, it's not enough to cover the needs of low income people in all of their counties. That’s where the free clinics come in. Officials say people who cannot afford attorneys can come to these meetings with any legal problems, and they’ll do their best to help out. “It’s a good opportunity when people aren’t able to hire an attorney, often times they need a little bit of direction,” said Robin Bozian, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services Representative. “So they can come here and speak with a private attorney, and get their questions answered, get help with filing out the form, give some direction, help them sort of strategize how to present their case.” Meetings are held every third week of each month, from 6-8 PM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. http://www.thenewscenter.tv/home/headlines/Legal-services-offer-free-advice-clinic-in-Washington-County-351608571.html
By SEOLS 28 Sep, 2015
Legal aid agencies provide legal help to those with low incomes and limited savings and other assets. President of the Ohio State Legal Services Association, Tom Bonasera, addressed prominent community leaders Monday, to discuss the importance of legal aid in our community.  https://www.whiznews.com/content/news/local/2015/09/28/legal-aid-benefits
By SEOLS 30 Dec, 2014
http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/story/news/local/in-depth/2014/09/20/legal-help-shrinking-poverty/15894095/
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