PRESS ARCHIVE
- July 2010 (3)
- June 2010 (2)
- May 2010 (1)
- April 2010 (3)
- March 2010 (1)
- February 2010 (4)
- January 2010 (5)
- December 2009 (1)
- November 2009 (6)
- May 2009 (1)
Virginia Medical-Legal Partnership Network Launches New Website
Medical-Legal Partnerships improve health outcomes by harnessing the power of doctors, lawyers and social workers working together for their patients. In 2004, the Legal Aid Justice Center, University of Virginia Medical Center and the University of Virginia School of Law formed Virginia’s first Medical-Legal Partnership in Charlottesville. There are now nine sites throughout the Commonwealth. These Partnerships serve individuals, families, children, and elders with a wide range of medical, legal, and social work needs. Visit the Virginia Medical-Legal Partnership Network’s new website, www.mlpvirginia.org, to learn more.
Legal Aid Client Joins President Obama in the Rose Garden to Urge Extension of Unemployment Benefits
On July 19, 2010, President Obama addressed the nation and urged the Senate to pass legislation that includes an extension of unemployment benefits. By his side was Leslie Macko, a client of the Legal Aid Justice Center, who lost her job in 2009. She has persistently searched for work, but to no avail. She is one of many workers who are facing termination of their benefits if Congress fails to act.
The unemployment measure has been held up for weeks in the Senate. On July 20, 2010, Carte Goodwin will be sworn in to fill the West Virginia seat previously held by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. It is anticipated that Carte Goodwin will cast the deciding vote in favor of the extension.
Watch the video of the President’s remarks from the Rose Garden and hear him tell Ms. Macko's story.
Read the Press Statement from the White House.
Attorney Sought - Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project
The Legal Aid Justice Center seeks a creative and highly motivated attorney to drive forward its Virginia Institutionalized Persons (VIP) Project. Based in Charlottesville, the attorney will litigate issues involving prisoners and other institutionalized persons in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The attorney will both handle cases independently and serve as co-counsel with experienced pro bono, civil rights attorneys around the state. The attorney will also strengthen our alliances with state and national groups that address conditions in prisons, jails and mental health institutions.
Read more about the position here.
NPR - Car Dealers May Escape Scrutiny Of Consumer Loans
The proposed new Consumer Financial Protection Board may contain a gigantic loophole leaving consumers exposed to unregulated financial products. Legal Aid Justice Center contract attorney, Tom Domonoske, speaks out on National Public Radio (NPR).
Read the article and listen to the clip here.
Angela Ciolfi Wins American Bar Association Award
The American Bar Association announced that Angela Ciolfi, legal director of the Legal Aid Justice Center’s JustChildren Program, will receive a National Child Advocacy Award from the Young Lawyers Division. The award will be presented at the ABA’s annual meeting in San Francisco on Aug. 7, 2010.
Read the press release about the award -- and Angela's accomplishments -- here.
NLADA Takes Courageous Stand
The Legal Aid Justice Center applauds the decision of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) to withdraw its support from the Equal Justice Conference, scheduled for May 13-15 in Phoenix, Arizona. In response to the immigration law passed in Arizona recently which NLADA believes will harm Americans and immigrants alike, the group took a courageous stand to pull-out of the conference. As a result of its decision to withdraw from the conference, cosponsored with the American Bar Association, NLADA will incur substantial expenses.
If you would like to support NLADA in its courageous stand against injustice and help defray these costs, you can make a contribution on the organization’s website here.
Alex Gulotta, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Justice Center is also a member of the NLADA Board of Directors.
Read NLADA's statement here.
Our Teen Health Guide in the News
A story in the Charlottesville Daily Progress highlights our Teen Health Guide and Child Health Advocacy Program (CHAP) attorney, Carolyn Pointer. The Guide also was covered by Channel 19 TV news in Charlottesville.
Click here to access the flash version of the Teen Health Guide.
Emily Dreyfus Wins John L. Snook Child Advocate Award
Long-time Legal Aid Justice Center advocacte, Emily Dreyfus, was presented with the John L. Snook Child Advocate Award at the Children Youth and Family Services (CYFS) annual awards breakfast on Thursday, April 22, 2010 in Charlottesville. Emily is the Legal Aid Justice Center's senior community organizer and a state-wide leader in support of the rights of children with disabilites.
Read more about Emily's award here.
Child Health Advocacy Program Publishes Teen Health Guide
The Teen Health Guide was developed in conjunction with the Teen Health Center at the University of Virginia Health System. It was authored by Carolyn Pointer and Dyan Aretakis. Special thanks go out to Sonjia Smith, for funding this project, and to Myra Hiott Chapman, for researching and citing the relevant laws.
Click here to access the flash version of the Teen Health Guide.
If you do not have flash or if you want to access this publication offline, click here to download the PDF version of the Teen Health Guide.
Roanoke Times Supports Parole Class Action
In a favorable editorial, the Roanoke Times writes in support of the parole class action lawsuit filed by our Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project. The Editorial states, "Inmates likely serving sentences longer than intended should have a real chance at parole. If they don't need to be imprisoned for the public safety, let them out, and ease the strain on the public purse."
Read the editorial, here.
Read more about the case here.