Advocacy Code Card Jan 2004
Advocacy Resources for Common Problems[*]
What is Advocacy? Using information and skills to access benefits, services and entitlements, and/or to enforce individual or group rights. Advocates may intercede on behalf of individuals and/or educate community members to assert themselves. Advocacy includes assisting individuals directly andworking towards systemic and/or legislative reforms.
GENERAL ADVOCACY TIPS TO HELP PATIENTS
- Telephone or write a letter to the landlord or agency caseworker. Move up the agency’s chain of command to access benefits and services on patient’s behalf.
- Help de-stigmatize the use of government benefits such as food stamps and other resources by encouraging patients to access such services.
- Document patient's need for services on charts.
- Encourage families to reapply or appeal if they were denied benefits or services. Appeals are time-sensitive: appeal first, then search for an attorney.
- Help families think about maximizing income by using alternative sources of income support (food stamps, fuel subsidies, childcare vouchers, etc.).
SAMPLE SCREENING QUESTIONS
- How are you making ends meet?
- Do you have enough food to eat?
- Do you have health insurance (NOT Free Care)?
- Are you worried about safety for you/your child?
- Where are you living? How is the environment at home?
- Every couple fights—what are fights like in your home? Do fights ever become physical?
- Do you have back bills or rent that you’re worried about?
Families are usually eligible for certain benefits if their gross income, before taxes and deductions, is less than the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
2003 FPL GUIDELINES
HH # / 100% / 125% / 185% / 200%1 / $8, 980 / $11,225 / $16,613 / $17,960
2 / $12,120 / $15,150 / $22,422 / $24,240
3 / $15,260 / $19,075 / $28,231 / $30,520
4 / $18,400 / $23,000 / $34,040 / $36,800
5 / $21,540 / $26,925 / $39,849 / $43,080
6 / $24,680 / $30,850 / $45,658 / $49,360
7 / $27,820 / $34,775 / $51,467 / $55,640
8 / $30,960 / $38,700 / $57,276 / $61,920
(add $3,140 for each additional person)
HEALTH INSURANCE ADVOCACY
Specific Health Plans
Affinity Health Plan: 1-866-AHP-5678/1-866-247-5678
Community Premier Plus: 1-800-867-5885
Fidelis Care NY: 1-888-343-3547
MetroPlus Health Plan:1-800-475-METRO/475-6387
New York-Presbyterian Community Health Plan:
1-800-261-4649
ABC Health Plan: (800) 298-2431/(800) 298-2420
Centercare Health Plan:1-800-545-0571
Health Plus Health Plan: 1-888-809-8009
Neighborhood Health Providers: 1-800-826-6240
Helpful Phone Numbers
NYS Insurance Dept. (General Info):1-800-342-3736
NYS DOH-complaint line re:HMOs:1-800-206-8125
NYC Human Resource Administration
(Medicaid and General Public Assistance):
1-877-472-8411 (within NYC)
1-718-557-1399 (outside NYC)
HOUSING
Subsidized Housing: Federally funded, privately owned developments; apply to each individual development
Public Housing: Government funded, government-run housing; must apply at a Local Housing Authority (LHA)
Section 8: Federally funded vouchers used to subsidize rent in private apartments, dispensed by LHAs and agencies appointed by the DHCD
Healthy Housing Screening Questions (HOMES):
- Has HOUSING ever been a problem for you?
- Do you spend OVER half your income on rent?
- Do you ever have MOLD, roaches, or MICE at home?
- EVER been tested for lead?
- Do you have SMOKE detectors and window guards?
FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY
Income and resources are used to determine food stamp eligibility. Income includes wages, unemployment benefits, public assistance, pension/social security, and child support, but DOES NOT include the value of a home, belongings, cars, or life insurance policies. Check eligibility at 800-342-3009.
TIPS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
- Undocumented parents can safely access benefits for citizen children.
- Accessing food stamps, health insurance, WIC, and public housing will not affect immigration status
- All families with children <5yo and below 185% FPL are eligible for WIC, regardless of immigration status.
- Undocumented immigrant families should NOT disclose their immigration status, visa, or passport information to any state or federal agency.
- Undocumented families should NOT use false names or Social Security numbers when completing birth certificates or other official documents.
- Immigrant families should not be afraid to report a landlord to inspectional services or take a landlord to court to fix substandard housing conditions.
RESOURCES
Advocacy & Legal Services
Advocates for Children: 212-947-9779
Bronx Legal Services Corp: 718-993-6250
Bronx Parent Resource Center-Family Advocacy/Entitlements: 718-583-2447/718 -220-0456
Legal Services for Children: 212-683-7999, ext. 236
Legal Services of New York: 212-431-7200
Manhattan Parent Resource Center: 212-964-5253
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc.-Disability/Special Education: 212-244-4664
New York Legal Assistance Group: 212-750-0800
Resources for Children with Special Needs-Referral Service: (212) 677-4650
Sinergia, Inc.-Developmental Disabilitities: 212-496-1300
City Bar Fund-
Community Outreach Law Program: [MR1]212-382-6629
Immigration Issues for women & children: 212-382-4711
Covenant House New York-Legal Services: [MR2]212-613-0300
The Door-A Center for Alternatives-
Legal Services to 12-21 year olds: 212-941-9090 Ext. 3280
Harlem Legal Services, Inc: 212-348-7449
Lawyers Alliance for New York: 212-219-1800
Legal Aid Society-
Volunteer Division/Community Law Office: 212-426-3000
Bronx Courthouse Office: 718-681-8712
Bronx Neighborhood Office: 718-991-4600
Harlem Neighborhood Office: 212-633-3293
Juvenile Rights Division: 212-312-2260
New York Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Rights Project-
Reproductive rights of low-income women, teenagers’ rights to confidential health care, reproductive health services, and rightf of pregnant and parenting teens to remain in school: 212-344-3005, ext. 236
NYC Housing Court
Civil Court Information Line: 212-791-6070
Asthma
Asthma Action Line –provides educational material, referrals, literature.
1-877-278-4620 or 212 788-5002
Healthy Neighborhood Program- home assessment, education, free mattress covers
212-360-5980 (primarily East Harlem)
Community Voices Asthma Basics for Children
Workshops for asthma, VNS referrals: 212-304-6521,7272
Child Abuse & Trauma
(see also Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) Columbia U. Child Advocacy Center 212-305-6474 Montefiore Child Protective Services 718-920-8463
Child Care
ChildCare Aware.org Advice re daycare: 800-424-2246
ChildCare Resource and Referral Centers in NYC:
1) Day Care Council of NY: 212-206-7818
2) Child Care INC: 212-929-4999
3) Child Dev Support Co: (Brooklyn) 718-398-6738
NY State Dept of Fam Assistance: 518-474-9454
To apply for subsidized child care or vouchers:
Agency for Child Development: (718) FOR-KIDS
If on Public Assistance: 718-291-1900
Parenting Support
Audubon Youth Mental Health Project rules/discipline support group, kids 5-7: 212-781-5500
Spanish Parenting Support Group located @ Gouverneur hospital: 212-614-6353
Spanish Parent Empowerment Training for homeless/formerly homeless: 718-293-7449
Parent Support Group problems @ home/school: (212) 368-4100 x 14 or 22; 151 W. 136th St.
Child Support
NYC Child Support Enforcement Unitpayments from non-custodial parents: 212-226-7125
Disability/Complicated Care
AHRC support group for families: 212-780-2658
Families Together in NYS help and referral line: 888-326- 8644
UCP/NYC evaluations; education, recreational & vocational programs; support: 212-979-9700
Parent to Parent of NYS: 800-405-8888
Natl Inf Ctr for Children & Youth with Disabilities: 800-695-0285
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.: 212-677-4650,
SSI cash assistance for the disabled: (800) 772-1213,
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Project Faith 888-343-4866
DOVE 212-305-9060
Partner’s Anonymous, Inc. 212-927-7738
New York Asian Women’s Center 888-888-7702
Haitian Women’s Program 718-399-0200
Education
Department of Education- for placement: 917-521-3700
Special Education- for ages 3 and above- 212-795-4656
Head Start Programs- 212-361-6753
Universal Pre-K- for 4 year olds: 917-521-3764
Special Needs:
Charma Child Development Center- for 2-4 year olds 212-368-4710
Families Together- 212-305-0901
Support Group for Parents- 212-305-0901
English Language Learners- 917-521-3744
Alianza Dominicana-programs for drop out prevention, GED, education, training, and employment- 212-740-1960
Food & Nutrition Resources
NYS Temp Ass Hotline food stamps: 800-342-3009
The Hunger Hotline for emergency food assistance/food pantry info: 866-888-8777
Selected Food Pantries/Soup Kitchens (call first):
Washington Hgts Ecumenical Food pantry: 212-781-8328
Good Shepherd, 207 st: 212-567-1300
St James Soup Kitchen, 141st st: 212-283-4541
Riverside Church, Claremont Ave: 212-870-6760
Women, Infants & Children (WIC)food for pregnant women & kids <5 yrs. Selected locations:
1727 Amsterdam Ave 10031 212-862-0054
622 W 168 St 100332 212-305-7122
170 233 St 10463 718-796-1657
68 Nagle Ave 10040 212-304-0428
Gay and Lesbian Resources
Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project: (212) 714-1141
PFLAG support for parents whose child has come out: (212) 463-0629 or (718) 271-6663
Alianza Dominicana HIV-related & other services:
(212) 795-4226
Peer Listening Line: M-F 5-10pm (800) 399-PEER
Outright Youth Sppt Line: M-F 10am-6pm
(800) GLB- CHAT
The Gay & Lesbian National Hotline: M-F 4pm-12am & Sat 12pm-5pm (888) THE-GLNH
Health Insurance/Healthcare
Child Health Plus All children under the age of 19 who are residents of NY State are eligible for Child Health Plus, regardless of income or immigration status.
To Apply: 1-800-698-4KIDS (1-800-698-4543)
NYC DOH/Mental Hygiene: Info about Facilitated Enrollment Centers according to Borough:212-788-5500
New York/Manhattan
Generations/Northern Manhattan Health Network:
718-579-4202/718-579-7587
Hispanic Federation: 212-233-8955, ext. 19
Washington Heights Health Center: 212-491-1661/4453 212-694-2399
Alianza Dominicana, Inc.: 212-740-1960, ext. 134/130
Medicaid
Medicaid Helpline: 877-463-7680/ 800-541-2831
Medicaid Managed Care: 800-505-5678
Family Health Plus Public health insurance program for adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who do not have health insurance, but have incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid.
To enroll: 1-877-9FHPLUS/1-877-934-7587
Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP)
PCAP offers complete pregnancy care and other health services to women and teens who live in New York State. No cost to eligible women:
Growing Up Healthy Hotline (Referral Line)
1-800-522-5006
Healthy NY State-sponsored health insurance program for uninsured working individuals. To Apply: 1-866-HEALTHY-NY/ 1-866-432-5849
Housing
Homelessness/In Need of New Housing:
Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU): 151 East 151st St.
Bronx, New York 10455
New York City Housing Authority- 212-306-3000
Section 8 : for victims of domestic violence, homelessness,
Intimidated witness. 212-306-3000
*for NYCHA and Section 8 can call borough office for
eligibility or application status. 212 828-7100
ACS Housing Subsidy for those unable to reunite with
children due to poor housing or for those 18-21 who are
placed out of foster care- 212 341-3650
Jiggetts- supplement for those in arrears with rental payments. Call 311 to contact HRA center to apply for grants.
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)-lists of available low and moderate income apartments in all 5 boroughs.
For English (212) 863-5610
For Spanish (212) 863-5620
Immigrant & Refugee Resources
(see also Advocacy and Legal Resources)
African People’s Council-Provides services to African immigrants/refugees: 212-346-9750
African Services Committee-Provides HIV Testing/AIDS Counseling to immigrants: 212-222-3882
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund: 212-966-5932
Caribbean Women’s Health Association Immigrant Service Center-Provides DV, Maternal/Child Health, Immigrant Services: 718-826-2942
Catholic Charities of New York, Dept. of Immigrant & Refugee Services: 212-419-3700
Central American Legal Assistance-
Prefers: Central American clients: 718-486-6800
City Bar Fund-
Provides services to those seeking asylum, and domestic
violence survivors: 212-382-6629, ext. 471
ESL/Language Classes for Immigrants/Refugees-
Limited to: permanent residents, refugees, asylees:
212-662-3200
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): 212-216-7697
Immigration Hotline: 212-419-3737
Immigration Services & Benefits (BCIS)-
National Customer Service Center
Provides General Information:
1-800-375-5283/ TTY: 1-800-767-1833
The Legal Aid Society-Immigration Law Unit-
Provides: Representation in immigration courts, political
asylum, help with social issues: 212-440-4300
New York Association for New Americans: 212-425-5051
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights:
212-781-0355
Office of Immigrant Affairs: 212-788-9389
Safe Horizon Immigration Legal Services-
Lawyers: (718) 899-1233, ext. 129
Referral Services: (718) 899-4000
Job Resources/Training
These sites offer free training and job search resources.
Allianza Dominicana Center for Employment Training & Education: 212-740-7600
Job Corps: 800-733-JOBS
Dominican Women’s Development Corporation:212-740-1929
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood: (800) 682-9218 or 212-965-7000
Adolescent Health Ctr., Mt. Sinai 312 E 94th st b/t 1st & 2nd
212-423-3000
Audubon Clinic 21 Audubon Ave. 212-342-3232. Young adults clin, young men’s clin.
The Ryan Center 110 W. 97th b/t Col & Amst. 212-769-7269. Also Ryan Shout Van 212-316-7912
FROST’D mobile teen health van. 212-924-3733 (includes needle x-change srvc)
Harlem Hospital Adol.Program 506 Lennox Ave @ 135th. 212-939-2360
Helen B. Atkinson Ctr 81 W. 115th st b/t Lennox & 5th. 212-426-0088
Listings of free/anonymous Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) testing locations, statewide: call 311
Substance Abuse/Smoking Cessation
Alcoholics Anonymous: 212-647-1680, English and Spanish referrals
Creo Yo-Alianza Dominicana program for 11-17 year olds with substance abuse. 212-740-1960
1-800-lifenet for alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, events related to September 11.
Smoking Cessation Group at Morgan Clinic
212-939-6001
The Smoking Cessation Clinic at the NY State Psychiatric Institute, 21 and above: 212-543-5905
Smoking Cessation Program- St. Luke’s Hospital, 21 and above: 212-523-4410
Teen Resources
Key:T=tutoring/homework, J=job training/placement, C=counselling, S=sports or recreaction classes,
H=Health ed, D=dance
YMCA of NYC 212-281-4100 (multiple sites)
Pathways for Youth 718-828-4518. (mult. Sites S. Bronx) T, S, H
Community League “Ujima” Prog. 500 W. 159th @ Amst. 212-795-4779. T,H, J, S, self esteem workshops.
The Valley 1047 Amst. Ave b/t 111th & 112. 212-222-2110. T, J, H, S, youth fathers program
Fresh Youth Initiative 280 Ft. Wash#5 @172. 212-781-1113. H, C, T, youth-lead community service programs
Goddard Riverside Youth Ctr 154 W. 93rd b/t Col & Amst. 212-866-0009. T, S, D, Art, aerobics
Graham-Wiindham T.I.E.S. 625 W 133rd b/t B’dway & 12th 212-368-1622 T, S, C, D, parenting classes
Boys and Girls Club 530 W. 133rd b/tAmst & B’dway 212-283-6770. T, S, D, computer classes
Nitestar Program 1090 Amst.b/t 113 &114. 10th floor. 212-523-3688. H, D peer ed. through song, dance, theater
Children’s Arts & Sciences Workshops, Inc 300 Ft. Wash. B/t 172 & 173. Suite 1H. 212-923-7766. T, J, S, D, Tae Quon Do, art, science
Double Discovery Center 521 W. 114@ Amst. Lion’s Ct. Room 206. 212-854-3897. T, J, PSAT/ SAT classes, personal development workshops
Please see blue spiral “the Guide” by the Adolescent Initiative Project of N. Manhattan for more complete lists and descriptions. and look under the Adolescent Initive Project (AIP)
Utility/Fuel Assistance
Citizen Service Center: 311 For complaints re: heat and hot water; also Home Energy Assistance Program [1 time grant to homeowners or renters to pay fuel and utility costs].
SAMPLE ADVOCACY LETTER REQUESTING SERVICES
An advocacy letter should contain the following elements:
- Specific nature of the problem & medical diagnosis
- The law or requirement that applies to the problem
- How the specific problem and the rule that applies to it relate to the patient's condition
- Specific consequences of the diagnosis (ie, ER visits)
- Request for action
Dear Landlord:
This letter is in regard to my patient, Sally Jones. Sally is a ___ year old girl/boy who lives at 123 Broadway, Apt. #4. I am writing to request that you clean up the lead paint chips and repaint Sally’s apartment so that the Sally and her family are no longer exposed to lead paint and paint chips. Exposure to paint chips can be very dangerous to a child’s health and can result in poor physical and mental, developmental, gastrointestinal, and neurological disease (including learning disabilities and mental retardation) and possible death.
The local Board of Health requires that all apartments be lead-free. According to Sally’s mother, Sally is constantly exposed to lead paints, which flakes off the walls of her apartment. As a result, this is putting Sally at great risk in terms of her health.
The presence of lead paint and resultant paint chips is in violation of the housing code regarding lead-free housing in New York City, and it also violates the implied warrantly of habitability. I request that you immediately remedy this problem by performing the required lead-paint abatement in Sally’s apartment.
Please feel free to contact me at 212-___-____ if you have any questions.
Thank you for your time and consideration with this matter.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Pediatrician
cc: Family
Medical Record
Referral to Lawyer
[*]* Based on Boston Medical Center Advocacy Code Card by Eric Fleegler, MD and Ellen Lawton, JD. Children’s Hospital and Dept. of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center. This version compiled by Columbia University Academic Pediatric Fellows.
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