Provides advocacy, referral and public policy statements on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Exists to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive the services, supports, and opportunities to fully realize their right to live, work, and enjoy life in the community without discrimination.

The Decorah Regional office of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging provides information, referral, and assistance for older adults ensuring that they are connected to benefits and services available to them. The Area Agencies on Aging also advocate with local, state, and federal elected officials to ensure that they address the needs of the aging population.

Provides advocacy, referral and public policy statements on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Exists to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive the services, supports, and opportunities to fully realize their right to live, work, and enjoy life in the community without discrimination.

Advocates for youth, families, and pregnant women experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing case management and civil legal assistance.

Works with law enforcement, child protective services, and states attorneys to coordinate investigations of child abuse allegations by providing forensic interviews of victims, advocacy, and referrals for counseling, medical exams, and any other services needed.

Provides various immigration services, including: - U-Visa, VAWA, and Asylum assistance. - Removal of Conditions on Residence Card assistance. - Naturalization. - Adjustment of Status ssistance. - Renewal of DACA and resident card assistance. - Temporary Protection Status assistance. - Family Petitions assistance.

Develops and provides support to affiliates and partners, coordinates statewide advocacy and awareness, directly educates stakeholders, and coordinates strategic initiatives to advance mental health equity, access, and parity.

Mental health case management aids in assessment, planning, and support for a variety of needs. Assists with housing, public income entitlements, accessing various services, and more. Case management services include: - Advocacy for mental health and other services. - Identifying and linking individuals with necessary resources. - Building skills for daily living.

Provides intensive support to high-risk children in foster care to stabilize placements and prevent entry into higher levels of care. Services include: - Brief individual and family counseling for foster and natural families. - Placement stabilization services. - Crisis intervention. - Community linkage. - Foster parent support. - School intervention and tutoring. - Court advocacy. - Mentoring services. - Enrichment activities.

Provides resources, information, and local chapters of the NAA. Additionally, local support groups may be found through the website.

Provides Mesothelioma victims and their families with information and resources. This includes: - Advocacy. - Cancer Centers. - Access to medical experts. - Access to Mesothelioma lawyers who can help secure financial assistance.

Assists individuals who have been diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness in developing and maintaining their basic daily living skills, coping skills, problem solving skills, manage their illness, and live as independently as possible within the least restrictive environment. Services include: - Skill building activities. - Long-term case management. - Group and individual counseling. - Advocacy. - Psychiatry. - Employment assistance.

Survivors may access legal advocacy such as assistance with orders of protection, understanding court procedures, and other legal services. Medical advocacy is available for participant emergencies or to address their ongoing health concerns.

Provides free legal services and self-advocacy assistance to people with disabilities in the areas of discrimination, assistive technology, self-determination, special education, guardianship defense, abuse and neglect, and community integration, and voting rights. Self-advocacy training to people with disabilities and family members is also provided on topics including: - The Americans with Disabilities Act. - Employment. - Transportation. - Voting. - Ticket to Work. - Special education. - Guardianship.

Neutral, third-party hub whose purpose is coordinating services and safe, child-sensitive support to children and their non-offending family members. The CAC also provides: - Referrals for medical treatment. - Trauma assessments. - Referrals for counseling and caregiver education through the Center for Counseling. - In-person support during court proceedings. - Community prevention and awareness presentations.

Provides an opportunity to empower individuals to change their lives, the lives of other people with disabilities, and the community to become more open and inclusive. Staff works with individuals to inform them of their rights, and to assist them in advocating for themselves on a particular issue, such as access to housing, education, healthcare and job accommodations. Staff also address specific issues in the community that affect people with disabilities. Currently, the center is focusing systems advocacy efforts in the area of transportation, educational rights and institutionalization based on disability.

Helps individuals advocate for themselves and for individuals with disabilities and/or barriers to ensure that they receive the services they need and are qualified for.

Provides information and referrals to domestic violence shelters, which may be able to provide transportation to individuals that need to be sheltered outside of their local area. Collaborates with other organizations to promote legislation and policies that serve and protect survivors of domestic violence.

Provides free civil legal representation to those who have limited income or special legal needs in the following areas: - Family and safety. - House and apartment. - Work and employment rights. - Health, disability, and basic needs. - Immigration. Family and Safety: Focuses on cases where personal safety and financial stability are at risk, including: - Orders of Protection and No Contact Orders for survivors of domestic or sexual violence and elder abuse. - Custody and Divorce. - Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Investigations of Parents and Caregivers. - Special Education and School Discipline. House and Apartment: Focuses on cases that protect safe and affordable housing for tenants and homeowners, including: - Preventing eviction or termination from subsidized housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program. - Challenging discrimination and enforcing rights for tenants in subsidized housing or with special legal needs, such as survivors of domestic violence. - Foreclosure defense and other protections for homeowners. - Maintaining and restoring essential utility services (gas, electricity, water). - Transfer on Death Instruments to pass a home to a designated beneficiary. Money and Debt: Focuses on cases that protect income and assets from unfair collections and fraud, including: - Bankruptcy. - Student loans. - Car title and payday loans. - Unfair debt collection. - Consumer fraud. - Driver's license restoration for debt-related suspension. - Financial exploitation of older adults. - Power of attorney for financial/property. - Tax disputes with IRS, including innocent spouse relief, identity theft, and collections. Work and Employment Rights: Focuses on protecting the rights and benefits of workers and reducing barriers to employment, including: - Unemployment Insurance benefits. - Wage claims. - Employment discrimination and enforcement of employee protections such as FMLA (family medical leave) and VESSA (for survivors of domestic or sexual violence). - Expungement and sealing of adult and juvenile criminal records. - The legal needs of migrant agricultural and landscape workers throughout Illinois. - Comprehensive services for victims of human trafficking throughout Illinois. Health, Disability, and Basic Needs: Focuses on accessing and protecting benefits for basic human needs, including: - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). - Medical Assistance (Medicaid, Medicare). - Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security. - Veterans Benefits. - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). - Crime Victims Compensation from the State of Illinois. - Rights of long term care residents in Suburban Cook and Lake County. - Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Wills. Immigration: Focuses on obtaining protected status for survivors of crime, including U-visa, VAWA (for survivors of domestic violence), and T-visa (for survivors of human trafficking).

Provides supportive programs and services for immigrants and refugees, including: - Immigrant Family Support Program. - Crisis support. - Advocacy and removing barriers to community integration. - Weekly educational workshops (Conexion Comunitaria).

Assists individuals who have been diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness in developing and maintaining their basic daily living skills, coping skills, problem solving skills, manage their illness, and live as independently as possible within the least restrictive environment. Services include: - Skill building activities. - Long-term case management. - Group and individual counseling. - Advocacy. - Psychiatry. - Employment assistance.

Advocates for the implementation of current laws, promotion of needed legislation, and improvement of existing systems for people with disabilities while working to diminish negative attitudes that threaten to impede equal access. Individual advocacy includes: - Assisting people with disabilities in dealing with conflicts. - Helping people find ways to negotiate with the various support systems they use. Systemic advocacy includes making changes on a broad level. Such changes include: - Building strong relationships with local state and federal elected officials. - Working with local authorities to improve the enforcement of ADA and other relevant laws. - Working with the community-at-large to remove both physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and participating in the community.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) - Illinois/ Iowa/ Wisconsin provides navigational supports for people seeking legal options to protect and enforce their rights.

Acts as agents of change within systems with an emphasis on development of self-advocacy skills. The agency also provides advocacy for parents with children who have disabilities to help them through their child's school education.

Provides comprehensive, trauma-focused services to child who have experienced abuse and neglect. Offers a supportive environment for the children and their families, and coordinates the investigation and intervention process to minimize trauma for the child. Advocates serve as a liaison between the child, family, and team of professionals. The advocate attends all court hearings, keeps the family informed regarding the status of the case, assists in ongoing necessary referrals, and assists in court preparation in the event the case proceeds to trial. The team is typically comprised of: - Law enforcement. - DCFS. - Mental health clinician. - Forensic interviewer. - Child and family advocates. - Medical personnel. - Prosecutors. Services include: - Multidisciplinary team coordination (MDT). - Forensic interviews. - Advocacy. - Mental health services.