Southern Nevada Senior Law Program

ENHANCE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO SAFEGUARD AT-RISK OLDER ADULTS IN SOUTHERN NEVADA FROM ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, FRAUD, AND WRONGFUL DISCHARGE THROUGH COORDINATION OF LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES. - FOR 48 YEARS, SOUTHERN NEVADA SENIOR LAW PROGRAM (SLP) HAS PROVIDED NO-COST CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS IN SOUTHERN NEVADA. INCREASING REFERRALS FROM ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS), INVOLVING OLDER ADULTS WITH SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC NEEDS, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GREATER CASE COMPLEXITY AND DEMAND FOR COORDINATED SERVICES. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO OLDER ADULTS WITH SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC NEEDS BY STRENGTHENING COORDINATED LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSES TO ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION. THE PROJECT WILL INTEGRATE A SOCIAL WORKER/CASE MANAGER AND AN ATTORNEY TO JOINTLY RESPOND TO REFERRALS. USING A TRIAGE MODEL AND STABILITY MATRIX ASSESSMENT, THE TEAM WILL IDENTIFY LEGAL NEEDS, ADDRESS SOCIAL BARRIERS, PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, AND COORDINATE SERVICES. THE PILOT WILL ALSO DEEPEN COLLABORATION WITH THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE DEVELOPER (LAD), WHOSE OVERSIGHT ROLE WILL GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT PROTECTIVE RESPONSES. SLP WILL PURSUE FIVE OBJECTIVES: INCREASE CAPACITY FOR TIMELY, SPECIALIZED LEGAL ASSISTANCE; IMPROVE IDENTIFICATION AND RESPONSE TO COMPLEX LEGAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS; STRENGTHEN MULTIDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION WITH APS, LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN, AND THE LAD; IMPROVE CLIENT SAFETY, STABILITY, AND INDEPENDENCE; AND STRENGTHEN SLP’S ABILITY TO EVALUATE AND IMPROVE THE PILOT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH OR FINANCIAL WELL-BEING FOR AT LEAST 60% OF CLIENTS, POSITIVE LEGAL OUTCOMES FOR AT LEAST 60% OF CLOSED CASES, AND IMPROVED CAPACITY TO OBTAIN POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OLDER ADULTS FACING COMPLEX LEGAL NEEDS. PRODUCTS FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE A REPLICATION PLAN, STANDARDIZED WORKFLOWS, TRAINING MATERIALS, AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR USE BY OTHER LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL RUN FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29, 2028.