Elder Law And Wellness Initiative Nfp

Programs: Elwi's signature program is the elder justice court support program ("program"), a free legal assistance program for seniors sited within the circuit court of cook county's elder justice center ("ccejc"). The program services cook county residents who are sixty and over. Elwi provides legal assistance to qualifying low-income seniors. After conducting a detailed consultation, our attorneys' services may include assistance drafting simple motions; assistance with completing court forms such as fee waivers, appearances, answers; composing demand letters. Although legal advice is restricted to low-income seniors, every senior --- regardless of income --- can receive a consultation which may include legal information and appropriate legal and social service referrals. Most importantly, elwi has an expressed commitment to serving seniors who face elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation and during those consultations, elwi attorneys provide assistance with placing a call to the adult protective services hotline and conducting close follow-up. Thanks in part to the support of the elder justice courts and other legal aid organizations located in the pedway, elwi's program has seen great success in its first full year of operation. The program has grown from serving 60-70 seniors in its first months to serving nearly 250 per month at present. Elwi takes a holistic approach to serving its seniors and coordinates its services with the social worker consultations and other resources available within the elder justice center. Elwi makes frequent use of translation services available, including the ccejc's translation phone to assist those seniors who are not fluent in english. In addition, elwi recently has been provided audio equipment to assist in consultations with seniors who have hearing difficulties. Since the equipment has become available, it has been used in 10% of elwi consultations. Elwi is fortunate to have been granted office space, computers, phones and security in the pedway of the daley center. This has helped provide financial stability to the program and allowed us to focus our fund raising on legal and social services to the poor and elderly. Many private benefactors have been extremely generous to elwi helping us to be fully funded for our first fiscal year of operation (the 2015 fiscal year). We fully expect these funds to increase during the current 2016 fiscal year. Due to the current illinois budget crisis, elwi's plans and budget for fy 2016 do not include any state funds. There are some key foundations which have expressed a willingness to contribute funding once certain critical donor thresholds have been crossed.

the senior peer counselors program assists seniors with navigating the court system by clarifying and providing information on processes and procedures, connecting resources and services, lending a supporting ear and serving as escorts to courtrooms.