Our Children & Families program has a track record of successful advocacy for children and youth who have a combination of social, medical, and educational needs. Legal advocates work hand-in-hand with leading hospitals and health systems in Cook County to provide free legal assistance so that patients and their families can access public benefits, receive a free and appropriate education, and stay healthy. Legal needs include problems accessing health insurance, Medicaid, children’s SSI, Early Intervention (EI), and special education.

To learn more about this program's medical-legal partnerships, contact Katie Shelton at kshelton@legalcouncil.org or (312) 605-1951.

Our HIV program provides legal assistance in cases where HIV status is the cause of legal problems. This program assists clients with a vast range of issues including but not limited to discrimination, insurance disputes, return-to-work questions, confidentiality, and assistance with applying for public benefits.

If you or a family member are affected by HIV and need legal assistance, contact our intake line: (312) 427-8990.

If you're interested in HIV/AIDS education and training sessions, contact Kenya Garrett-Burnett at kgburnett@legalcouncil.org or (312) 605-1952.

Our homeless program pairs behavioral health and benefits advocacy to secure vital health services and income support for homeless individuals with severe mental illness and often co-occurring substance disorders.

Trauma-informed staff help individuals who are homeless, in large part due to years of profound trauma and undiagnosed and/or untreated mental health conditions, to obtain Social Security disability benefits (SSI and SSDI). These cash awards help persons adhere to medical treatment plans and live stable and integrated lives in the community. They also represent a significant economic impact into the community.

To learn more, contact Lisa Parsons at lparsons@legalcouncil.org or (312) 605-1962.