We have a few updates and progress to announce in our cases fighting for better unemployment benefits, disaster assistance, and disability rights in Louisiana.

 

NCLEJ partnered with attorneys Wendy Manard and Ellyn Clevenger to address major violations in Louisiana’s unemployment insurance benefits system that are costing Louisianans their unemployment checks. The lawsuit addresses egregious and unlawful procedures by the Louisiana Workforce Commission such as inadequate notice to benefits termination. Late last month, the case moved forward and its core claims that Louisiana’s unemployment insurance benefits system is rife with structural problems survived a motion to dismiss. Read more about the case. 

 

Making Sure Louisianan Youth Get Mental Health Services  

Also in Louisiana, NCLEJ is challenging the state’s failure to provide intensive home and community-based services to Medicaid-eligible youth with mental health or behavioral needs. For this case, NCLEJ has partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center, National Health Law Program, Disability Rights Louisiana, and O’Melveny & Myers LLP. In a major win, the court certified a class of Medicaid-eligible children across the state. We continue to fight to make sure youth with mental health needs get emergency mental health treatment and crisis intervention services. Our plaintiffs have the right to remain safely at home to receive care. This case is part of a larger fight to keep disabled youth in their communities. 

 

June 1st marks the first day of Hurricane Season and many are still dealing with the damages of hurricanes Laura and Zeta. NCLEJ recently made requests to the Department of Children & Family Services and the Metropolitan Human Services District to learn more about the assistance provided to people and families who lost their homes to hurricanes Laura and Zeta. These requests will further inform our advocacy to ensure state and federal agencies are meeting the needs of low-income individuals and people with disabilities in their response to natural disasters. Everyone should be able to access shelter and assistance. Read more about our original FOIA request here. 

 

We are proud to be working not only in Louisiana but across the country for disability rights and economic justice. Get the most up to date news from us and our movement partners by following us on Twitter. 

NCLEJ just launched a Racial Justice Fund to sustain its groundbreaking, grassroots impact litigation and advocacy. Please support our work to build local power and challenge racial discrimination at its roots.
 

Thank you for reading, 

Dennis Parker 

Executive Director