Structured group working together to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities living in Carlton, Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties. Works collaboratively with regional stakeholders and partners to monitor and improve the quality of services, person-centered outcomes, and overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Includes individuals with disabilities, families, service providers, community members, and government agencies.

Works closely with County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Affairs, individuals, and their families to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled Can also assist with the following: ???- Assistance with accessing Social Security benefits, insurance programs, etc. - Housing search - Independent living skills training - Individual Advocacy - Information and referral - Legislative and systems advocacy - Nursing home relocation services - Pre-employment services - Ramp projects and accessibility services

Works to create changes at the legislature to improve the mental health system for children, youth and adults and their families. Weekly legislative update is sent by email (sign up through website), day on the hill, and legislative trainings.

Resource center assists with the following services: - Advocacy: Includes areas of housing, civil and human rights, employment, transportation, and others. The Center advocates for state, local, and federal legislation. - Aging in Place Program: Offers accessible modification assistance, ramp installation, and accessibility assessments for homes and businesses for safe access and increased independence. - Assistive Technology Network: Assists individuals in the process of obtaining assistive technology devices. - Homemaking Services: Assists individuals in managing household activities including housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and shopping. - Independent living skills training - Information and Referral: Provides up-to-date disability information and referrals to various agencies and individuals within the region. - On-Demand Lending Library: Program will purchase the requested device and the individual can use it for as long as needed; the program retains ownership of the item. Eligibility requirements: first come, first served basis; funds are limited. - Peer Mentoring: Assists individuals living with a disability to identify goals and create a unique plan to achieve those goals. Matches interested consumers with a peer mentor who provides support, problem-solving solutions, social skills, etc. - Public Education: Provides information, resources, and materials on accessibility guides, ADA, disability laws, etc. - Respite Care Services: Provides short-term in-home care and support when the primary caregiver or family members need to be absent from the home. - Systems Advocacy: Works to implement changes where needed at a broader systemic level. - Transition/Relocation Services: Assists individuals living with a disability in transitioning from nursing facilities and other institutions into community settings, with the goal of preventing institutionalization.

Provides individual, legislative, and systems advocacy services such as: Individual Advocacy: One-on-one assistance to help them set and meet goals. It could also resolve a specific problem for one person.?? ?Legislative and Systems Advocacy: Working to create community-wide change

- Works with recovery community to remove barriers to recovery and eliminate the stigma associated with addiction. - Recovery Voices Count increases awareness of the recovery community as a political constituency.

- Promotes a balanced, sustainable, affordable transportation system (transit, bicycling, walking, in addition to driving) through advocacy, community organizing, technical assistance, and research - Advocates for shared mobility options designed to increase walking and biking by providing public education and advocating for funding safer crosswalks, bike lanes, and other improvements. - Carries out the Transportation Options program, an outreach effort to inform local service agencies about transportation issues facing low-income individuals and families.

Advocacy and support for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. - Fosters social inclusion for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities - Provides education and resources for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities - Provides a newsletter with information about educational, recreational, and social events - Provides workshops and trainings for individuals, families, and their caretakers

- Uses resources to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of food shelf members through public policy advocacy, public information campaigns, and fund raising events - Works to end hunger and assure food security for all Minnesotans

Works closely with County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Affairs, individuals, and their families to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled Can also assist with the following: ???- Assistance with accessing Social Security benefits, insurance programs, etc. - Housing search - Independent living skills training - Individual Advocacy - Information and referral - Legislative and systems advocacy - Nursing home relocation services - Pre-employment services - Ramp projects and accessibility services

Resource center assists with the following services: - Advocacy: Includes areas of housing, civil and human rights, employment, transportation, and others. The Center advocates for state, local, and federal legislation. - Aging in Place Program: Offers accessible modification assistance, ramp installation, and accessibility assessments for homes and businesses for safe access and increased independence. - Assistive Technology Network: Assists individuals in the process of obtaining assistive technology devices. - Homemaking Services: Assists individuals in managing household activities including housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and shopping. - Independent living skills training - Information and Referral: Provides up-to-date disability information and referrals to various agencies and individuals within the region. - On-Demand Lending Library: Program will purchase the requested device and the individual can use it for as long as needed; the program retains ownership of the item. Eligibility requirements: first come, first served basis; funds are limited. - Peer Mentoring: Assists individuals living with a disability to identify goals and create a unique plan to achieve those goals. Matches interested consumers with a peer mentor who provides support, problem-solving solutions, social skills, etc. - Public Education: Provides information, resources, and materials on accessibility guides, ADA, disability laws, etc. - Respite Care Services: Provides short-term in-home care and support when the primary caregiver or family members need to be absent from the home. - Systems Advocacy: Works to implement changes where needed at a broader systemic level. - Transition/Relocation Services: Assists individuals living with a disability in transitioning from nursing facilities and other institutions into community settings, with the goal of preventing institutionalization.

Provides the following services: - Information and referrals for individuals needing resources for a disability - Individual advocacy - Independent living skills training - Peer mentoring - Resources and materials on accessibility guide, ADA, disability laws, etc. - Systems advocacy (to implement changes where needed) - Transition services

A statewide group of current and former foster youth ages 14-23. Focuses on advocacy, changing the system and laws currently in place that affect children and youth in care and their families. Other areas of focus include: - Advocacy: youth meet with legislators, judges, attorneys, and social workers to address the needs and wants of youth in care. - Leadership: youth meet bi-weekly to discuss and plan projects and upcoming events related to foster care awareness and advocacy. - Collaboration: youth meet with other Youth Leadership Councils from around the state to discuss and plan ways to make a change in systems and provide greater community awareness. - Community development: youth plan and participate in community events to celebrate foster youth and raise awareness of the foster care system and what life is like as a youth in care. Youth attend community events where they can share what their local Youth Leadership Council is involved in and learn about other organizations within their community.

Provides support services and programs for sexually exploited adults, youth and their families, including: - Case Management - Court and legal advocacy; expungement legal clinics that help survivors remove legal barriers to employment, housing and/or higher education - Crisis line - Educational trainings and presentations - Individual and systems advocacy - LGBTQ+ specific services - Survivor Leadership support group; trafficking survivors lead group meetings and give a voice to the needs of longer-term survivors - Transitional housing - Youth prevention groups

Supportive services and case management for victim/survivors of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking including crisis services, support groups, and counseling. Services may include: - 24-hour crisis response to exploited youth - Advocacy and case management - Legal/systems advocacy - Outreach groups - Support groups - Trafficking emergency fund - Youth development training

Journey Transitional Living Program Program to establish independent living arrangements and skills training for homeless youth Red Path Program Program created to assist youth leaving placements in foster care, residential treatment, group homes, or other residential care facilities with living skills classes, transition planning, and case management. Includes: - Budgeting and finance - Juvenile justice - Healthy relationships - First impressions - Renter's education - Sexual health - Diversity - Leadership and community development Emergency Youth Hotline Program providing temporary shelter for runaway or homeless youth, free consultation and counseling as well as support, therapy sessions, and assistance communicating with family to resolve conflicts. Will work with county social services to resolve issues and provide referrals for housing and basic needs. Safe Place Offers youth younger than age 18 immediate access to services and shelter any time - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Youth Street Outreach Provides outreach for at-risk youth

- Coordinates statewide planning process for member programs and system practitioners - Facilitates discussion to identify and address program needs and evaluate services to domestic violence victims and their families - Preventive education to initiate change in government agencies and community organizations - Promotes public policy through legislation, administrative agencies, and appellate courts to address domestic violence issues and promote systematic change; legislative monitoring on issues of interest to battered women and children - Promotes statewide awareness through social media, traditional media and awareness campaigns including Clothesline Project, Femicide Reports, Live Free Without Violence, and Real Love Is... - Provides training and technical assistance to existing and emerging organizations serving battered women and their children; provides training and technical assistance to service providers and community organizations around domestic violence issues

Provides free and confidential legal information and advice about any rental housing issues/questions via phone or email. Additional services may include: - Advice/assistance to low-income tenant groups in community organizing and advocacy - Advice to renters who rent mobile home lots and own the mobile home - Offers training that educates on tenant/landlord rights targeted to specific populations including high school and college students, shelter and transitional housing residents, social workers, inspectors, police officers, attorneys, prisoners about to be released, and landlords - Provides advice on any rental housing topic. Common topics: repairs, evictions, security deposits, leases, notices, privacy, rent increases, fees, neighbor/roommate disputes, etc. - Provides legal advice for tenants whose landlords are going through foreclosure and may be facing eviction - Policy advocacy on tenant rights and affordable housing issues - Policy-based research activities NOTE: Email is the preferred method of communication. Click here to access the email an attorney form.

A wide range of civic engagement tools and activities to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities, their families and other interested individuals to influence policy makers and the decisions they make on behalf of children and adults with disabilities including: - Arc's Public Policy Action network keeps participants up-to-date on emerging issues and legislation that impacts people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - Local advocates monitor county board and school district activities, host visits with elected officials and administrative staff in the homes of Arc members, host meet-and-greet events with local policymakers, hold Town Meetings and policy forums, and provide testimony at county and school board meetings. - Policy Preview e-newsletter summarizes key activity and includes information, items requiring action and agendas for the Policy Action Networks The Arc Minnesota works closely with The Arc of the United States on state and national legislative and policy issues

Represents foster children only; does NOT work with custody issues - CLC engages in systemic reform benefiting all of Minnesota's foster children. These projects include advocating for policy and legislation regarding children's rights, participating in collaborative working groups focused on children's issues, writing amicus briefs to state and federal appellate courts, serving on statewide and nationwide committees and task forces that address children' issues. - CLC recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to represent foster children in child protection and state wards proceedings and provides ongoing consultation to the attorney - CLC staff works in partnership with a volunteer attorney to provide advocacy for children in foster care in court and legal proceedings. CLC's volunteer attorneys advocate for foster children by ensuring they understand what is happening to them, informing them of their options, and empowering them to have a voice in the decisions that are made about their lives. - The range of issues includes: Court reviews, appropriate placement, permanency planning, transition to adulthood, sibling contacts, and access to critical services including health care, education and financial benefits

Works closely with County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Affairs, individuals, and their families to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled Can also assist with the following: ???- Assistance with accessing Social Security benefits, insurance programs, etc. - Housing search - Independent living skills training - Individual Advocacy - Information and referral - Legislative and systems advocacy - Nursing home relocation services - Pre-employment services - Ramp projects and accessibility services

Resource center assists with the following services: - Advocacy: Includes areas of housing, civil and human rights, employment, transportation, and others. The Center advocates for state, local, and federal legislation. - Aging in Place Program: Offers accessible modification assistance, ramp installation, and accessibility assessments for homes and businesses for safe access and increased independence. - Assistive Technology Network: Assists individuals in the process of obtaining assistive technology devices. - Homemaking Services: Assists individuals in managing household activities including housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and shopping. - Independent living skills training - Information and Referral: Provides up-to-date disability information and referrals to various agencies and individuals within the region. - On-Demand Lending Library: Program will purchase the requested device and the individual can use it for as long as needed; the program retains ownership of the item. Eligibility requirements: first come, first served basis; funds are limited. - Peer Mentoring: Assists individuals living with a disability to identify goals and create a unique plan to achieve those goals. Matches interested consumers with a peer mentor who provides support, problem-solving solutions, social skills, etc. - Public Education: Provides information, resources, and materials on accessibility guides, ADA, disability laws, etc. - Respite Care Services: Provides short-term in-home care and support when the primary caregiver or family members need to be absent from the home. - Systems Advocacy: Works to implement changes where needed at a broader systemic level. - Transition/Relocation Services: Assists individuals living with a disability in transitioning from nursing facilities and other institutions into community settings, with the goal of preventing institutionalization.

Works to enhance the quality of care and quality of life for consumers of long-term care services and Medicare beneficiaries with concerns related to hospital access, discharge or denial of service. - Advocates for reform through state and federal legislation and the health care and social services system to better meet consumer needs - Investigates complaints and works to resolve disputes between consumers and nursing homes, boarding care homes, adult foster care, housing with services/assisted living residences, home care agencies, hospitals and government agencies through mediation, negotiation, education or referral to appropriate state or federal enforcement agencies or legal services - Provides information and education about consumers' rights, laws and regulations, and the financing of health care and long-term care services through written materials, individual consultation, or public speaking