Posts by Legal Council
Policy Update: Creating healthy futures for Illinoisans
The fight for health justice continues in Illinois with many bills to protect and expand access to healthy futures in Illinois.
Read MoreClient Focus: Trent
When Legal Council met Trent, he was waiting for approval for a heart and lung transplant.
Read MoreExploring the health and well-being of the transgender community
On this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility, we want to celebrate the accomplishments made towards expanding and protecting the rights and well-being of the trans community. But we must also recognize a significant amount of work left to be done in fighting the rampant discrimination and violence facing trans and gender nonconforming communities. Members of…
Read MoreWhat you need to know about HIV criminalization
Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, individuals living with HIV have faced countless acts of discrimination, violence, and unnecessary punishment based on their HIV status. Despite progress made on what we know about HIV and how we treat the virus, many Americans–including Illinoisans–still must face laws that criminalize HIV transmission. As longtime members of…
Read MoreClient Focus: Martin
Martin is a senior living with HIV, liver problems, chronic back pain, and other disabling conditions. After a series of accidents and facing the loss of vital health care and services, Martin worked with Legal Council to gain access to the life-saving medication he desperately needed. Before a car accident and poor health began to…
Read MoreHateful to Health: The lasting effects of hate crimes on public health
Warning: This post discusses physical and verbal abuse and violence, including references to mass weapons, racist symbols, suicide, and death. Over the years, hate crimes have steadily increased in America. In 2017, there was a 23 percent increase in religion-based hate crimes, while 60% of survivors and victims were targeted because of their race, ethnicity,…
Read MoreLETTER TO ISBE: CPS Special Education Update, February 2019
This letter was sent by a special education advocacy group to members of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) on the morning of February 26, 2019, prior to a presentation to ISBE members by the ISBE Monitor for Chicago Public Schools’ special education program. Legal Council continues to be an active member of the…
Read MoreMaking the Case for Use of Federal WIC Funds to Conduct Blood Lead Testing
Childhood lead exposure remains a persistent environmental health threat, particularly for low-income minority children. Research has shown that children in families receiving public assistance such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels than children not enrolled in a public assistance program, and that targeted testing of WIC participants could help identify additional children with elevated blood lead levels.
Read MorePatient Advocates vs. Trump Administration
Patient advocates and other healthcare groups filed a lawsuit in federal court on Sept. 14 to block the Trump administration from “expanding the availability of short-term health plans that don’t offer a full set of benefits,” according to a piece in the LA Times. The administration has been trying to diminish patient security brought by the Affordable Care…
Read MoreShort-term plans lead to long-term risks
Short term limited duration (S.T.L.D) plans might be cheaper than traditional policies but come with the price of limited benefits. This is bad news for people who are diagnosed with certain illnesses and can be either charged more out-of-pocket or denied coverage altogether. The Trump Administration is expected to produce plans that will expand these policies,…
Read More