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Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services

Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc. (Iowa P&A) is a private, independent, non-profit statewide corporation designated by the Governor but not affiliated with any government entity or service provider. Its goals are to ensure the basic human and civil rights of people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, and other disabilities. Since 1984, the agency has served as Iowa's Protection and Advocacy System, pursuant to Federal law (the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)) enacted in 1975.

Purpose

Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc. will protect and advocate for the human and legal rights that ensure individuals with disabilities and/or mental illness a free, appropriate public education, employment opportunities and residence or treatment in the least restrictive environment or method and for freedom from stigma. Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services will support people with disabilities to secure their rights and full participation as citizens through a program of self advocacy education, information and referral, non-legal advocacy and legal and systems advocacy.

Mission Statement

To defend and promote the human and legal rights of Iowans who have disabilities and mental illnesses.

Vision Statement

All Iowans are empowered to make their own decisions and are supported, included, and treated appropriately with dignity.

Background

Iowa P&A offers many services, including advice, self-advocacy assistance, negotiations and, when necessary, legal representation. The agency attempts to resolve issues at the lowest level, whenever possible, through the provision of:

·          information on the rights of persons with disabilities and referrals to other agencies in the state if an issue or problem is designated whenever possible;

·          extensive training and education in terms of arranging in-service training, workshops and presentations on Iowa P&A's services, due process, or legal rights of persons with developmental disabilities and many other disability-related topics;

·          systems advocacy, which encompasses monitoring state and national legislation and the rule- and policy-making of agencies that influence services for people with developmental disabilities; and

·          investigation of complaints from individuals residing in mental health institutions and other facilities. Pursuant to its designation as the state's protection and advocacy system, Iowa P&A has broad investigative authority granted to it by federal and state law. The agency can access records and staff to investigate complaints of alleged abuse or neglect of persons with disabilities.

Programs

ODLC provides protection and advocacy services under a number of different Federal programs. Follow the links for a description of the various services available in each program.

·           Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD)

·           Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI)

·           Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR)

·           Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT)

·           Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)

·           Protection and Advocacy Traumatic Brain Injury Program (PATBI)

·           Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA)

Other Programs

In addition to the Federal programs above, Iowa P&A directs the following projects:

·          Iowa Law Enforcement Academy disability awareness training

·          Partners in Policymaking leadership training

·          Legal outreach to underrepresented populations through a legal clinic at an African-American Community Church Center

Advocacy Assistance

Starting in July 2000, Iowa Protection & Advocacy embarked on a new pathway to handle intakes within the agency. Intakes are letters, phone calls, and visits from people in the disability community who need assistance, have questions, or want referrals to organizations more appropriate to meet their immediate concerns.

Intakes are a big part of the Iowa P&A system! The procedure was developed because the Board and Staff saw a need for improvement in serving Iowans with disabilities. Here's how the intake procedure works:

When an individual contacts our office for help, advice, or information concerning disability-related issues, they are first asked by our receptionist for basic information such as name, address, phone number, age, and a brief description of their concern. After obtaining this information, the receptionist directs the person, as well as their information, to one of the advocates on the Core Services team.

These advocates carefully listen to the person in order to determine how best we can serve them. Contrary to the intake operation in the past, when people call the agency today with issues and concerns, they will not always be talking with the same advocate. Many experienced people work together on the Core Services team to provide the best possible advocacy.

Advocacy within Core Services may fall into one of a couple different areas. At the heart of any P&A is Information/Referral and Short-Term Advocacy on non-priority issues. Information/Referral is just that: information on a question and referral to an organization specializing in the problem where further advocacy is necessary. Per our mandate, any advocacy over one hour is considered Short-Term Advocacy and may involve agency intervention which lasts from one hour up to 30 days, again, on all non-priority issues.

Priority issues, however, are the soul of every P&A organization and are handled as such. Rather than remaining in Core Services for any period of time, all priority issues go immediately to Priority Service teams for direct case advocacy.

With this new procedure, Iowa P&A now serves Iowans with disabilities faster, with greater ability and with better advocacy.

Contact Information

Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services Incorporated
950 Office Park Road, Suite 221
West Des Moines, IA 50265

Phone: (515) 278-2502 or 1-800-779-2502

Fax: (515) 278-0539

TTY: (515) 278-0571 or 1-866-483-3342

E-Mail: info@ipna.org

Website: http://www.ipna.org/

Additional Information

Similar services are provided to clients of Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) and others receiving services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by the Iowa Client Assistance Program. The CAP program is administered by the Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, Department of Human Rights. Visit their website at:
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/pd/client_assis_program/

See also:

Protection and Advocacy Systems - Overview

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Program

Iowa Client Assistance Program

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD)

Source

Information for this topic was drawn from the Iowa P&A website at:
http://www.ipna.org/

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