2-1-1

Population served: Everyone in the U.S. (check the website for availability in your area)
Mission:

2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Services vary from community to community.

Examples of service referrals include:

• Basic human need resources: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance and utility assistance
• Physical and mental health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention
• Employment support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs
• Support for older Americans and persons with disabilities: home healthcare, adult daycare, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation and homemaker services
• Support for children, youth and families: childcare, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.

2-1-1 Canada

Population served: Certain sections of Canada (check the website for availability in your area)
Mission:

2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Services vary from community to community.

Examples of service referrals include:

• Health services and support
• Financial and social assistance
• Housing and utility help
• Food assistance and meal programs
• Senior services and home care
• Government program assistance
• Parenting and family programs
• Disability support services
• Volunteer organizations
• Newcomer services
• Mental health support

American Bar Association

Contact: Website only
Population served: Anyone looking for a local attorney or legal information
Mission:

To connect people to local public service lawyer referral programs and legal information in their state.

• Provides online list of resources by state.

Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC)

Contact: 866-843-2572
Population served: People affected by cancer as well as community groups, employers and health professionals in the U.S.
Other language(s): Spanish
Mission:

To provide information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, health professionals, employers, and others coping with cancer.

• CLRC offers a national, toll-free telephone assistance line where callers can receive free and confidential information about relevant laws and resources for their particular situation. It is a program of the Disability Rights Legal Center, based in Los Angeles, CA.

• Provides free educational materials on its website, webinars, in-person workshops and trainings on cancer-related legal issues.

Center for Patient Partnerships

Contact: 608-890-0321 or advocacy@patientpartnerships.org
Population served: Individuals in the U.S. with life-threatening and serious chronic illnesses, their families, and healthcare professionals
Mission:

To engender effective partnerships among people seeking healthcare, people providing healthcare, and people making policies that guide the healthcare system.

• Provides patient advocacy to people with serious illnesses regardless of income or residence.  Services are provided by supervised students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School during the academic year (closed mid-December to end of January, spring recess, etc.).  May help with diagnosis and treatment concerns, coordination of care, medical decision-making, family matters, employment issues, medical bills and insurance, public benefits, disability programs, etc. Students do not provide legal, medical, nor financial advice.

LawHelp.org

Contact: info@lawhelp.org
Population served: Low and moderate-income people who need legal assistance in the United States
Mission: Assists people of low and moderate incomes find free legal aid programs in their communities, answers to questions about their legal rights, and court forms to help them with their legal problems. It is a network of 25 statewide legal information portals.

Legal Services Corporation

Contact: Website
Population served: Low-income Americans
Mission:

To promote equal access to justice and to provide high quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons

• LSC distributes grants to legal aid organizations across the US.  Website provides an online search tool to find civil legal aid services for low-income individuals and families (households with annual incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guideline).  Legal assistance may be provided in the areas of family law, housing, consumer issues, employment, and more.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

Contact: 703-942-5711
Population served: Elderly, people with disabilities, and their families, attorneys
Mission:

To improve the quality of legal services provided to people as they age and people with special needs; the primary focus is education. (NAELA does not provide direct legal services.)

• Provides online search tool to find an Elder Law or Special Needs attorney
• Sponsors continuing legal education programs on Elder and Special Needs Law for attorneys
• Provides publications and educational materials to its members on a wide range topics
• Provides support to other organizations serving people as they age and people with disabilities
• Advocates on public policy issues facing seniors and people with special needs.

National Cancer Legal Services Network

Contact: Website only
Population served: Cancer patients in the U.S., caregivers, health professionals, attorneys
Mission:

This multidisciplinary coalition aims to promote access to healthcare and to increase the availability of legal services for people living with cancer, their families and caregivers.

• Website link to map and listing of legal organizations in the U.S.
• These organizations assist with insurance disputes, public benefits, housing, employment issues, future care and custody planning, immigration, and advance directives.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)

Contact: 800-532-5274
Population served: People in the U.S. with chronic, life-threatening and debilitating illnesses
Other language(s): Spanish, translation services available by phone
Mission:

To provide professional case management services to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses.

• PAF Case Managers serve as active liaisons between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters as they relate to their diagnosis; may also be assisted by doctors and healthcare attorneys. PAF seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.
• Offers PAF authored publications and content, distributes booklets and publications
• Offers an annual scholarship program for survivors
• PAF Co-Pay Relief Program provides direct financial assistance to insured patients who meet certain qualifications to help them pay for the prescriptions and/or treatments they need. This assistance helps patients afford the out-of-pocket costs for these items that their insurance companies require. For details, call 866-512-3861.

Triage Cancer

Contact: 424-258-4628 or TriageCancer.org/GetHelp
Population served: Individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals
Mission:

To provide education on legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers

• Provides education on issues related to work, insurance, disability benefits, finances, estate planning, medical decision-making, and more. Offers free in-person and online educational events, materials, animated videos, and state-specific resources. Provides free one-on-one help to assist individuals understand their options and possible next steps, as well as CancerFinances.org, which helps people navigate finances after cancer.