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Iowa State Bar Continues Assistance
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Iowa State Bar Foundation Renews Support of Iowa Legal Aid’s Health and Law Project
$30,000 Grant Extends Support of Unique Legal/Medical Partnership
(Des Moines) August, 14th 2008 – Iowa Legal Aid’s Central Administrative Office today announced it was the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the Iowa State Bar Foundation.
Funding is for the second year of a three year $750,000 project and represents the second such grant bestowed by the Iowa State Bar Foundation, the first $30,000 grant being awarded in 2006.
The Health and Law Project unites the efforts of the attorneys at Iowa Legal Aid, and the medical staff of the Iowa Nebraska Primary Care Association Clinics in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ottumwa, Marshalltown, and Des Moines.
Focused on identifying underlying legal issues that are causing chronic medical conditions, the project is a unique collaboration between the medical and legal professions.
Often the chronic nature of a problem arises from insufficient knowledge or denial of an available health care benefit, or continued exposure to exacerbating circumstances. “In many cases the systemic cause of the cycle of poor health truly lays in the legal arena more than the health field,” explained Dennis Groenenboom, executive director of Iowa Legal Aid.
Consider the case of an HIV positive client suffering from schizophrenia and being evicted from federally subsidized housing. The Iowa Legal Aid attorney was able to reverse the eviction order and work with the health care staff to secure mental health case management services which would keep the client medication compliant.
This project, based on a model started by the Family Advocacy Program at the Boston Medical Clinic, seeks to improve the lives of low-income Iowans by addressing the legal issues behind their continued health related challenges, while providing the added value of reducing the health care expenses of both the client and the community.
The project has been assisted throughout by the voluntary support of the Iowa State Bar Association Health Law Section whose members have provided counsel and advice to the project.
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Dennis Groenenboom Celebrates Thirty Years with Iowa Legal Aid
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Iowa Legal Aid Executive Director Observes 30th Anniversary
 Des Moines (July 1, 2008) -- A career dedicated to restoring hope and dignity into the lives of those less fortunate recently marked a major milestone. Iowa Legal Aid’s Executive Director Dennis Groenenboom marked his thirtieth year with legal services on July 1, 2008. For sixteen of those years, he has served as Executive Director of Iowa’s statewide legal aid program.
Legal Services Corporation President Helaine Barnett recently reflected upon Groenenboom’s anniversary noting that he has “devoted his legal career to providing high quality civil legal assistance to low-income Iowans”. She concluded her remarks by expressing “sincere appreciation...for all that he has done to make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of low-income individuals and families in Iowa, and for his steadfast commitment to the cause of equal access to justice”.
As a practicing lawyer, Groenenboom demonstrated a commitment to helping persons with mental disabilities and those who were institutionalized. Among his more notable cases are Pinneke v. Preisser, an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals case that has helped define the limits of medical necessity in connection with the Medicaid program and Deckard v. Cerro Gordo County, a case that led to improvements in treatment and discharge planning to persons involuntarily placed in a county home.
He has continued his advocacy efforts on behalf of low-income people by serving on committees and sections of the Iowa State Bar Association, including the Professionalism Committee, and section counsel for the Health Law section and the AIDS Subcommittee. He was appointed to the Strategic Planning Committee for the ISBA and also served on the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
A native Iowan raised on a farm outside of Eddyville, Groenenboom is a 1978 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law. His thirty year career with Iowa Legal Aid began as a Staff Attorney in the North Central Iowa Regional Office in Mason City. A short time later, Dennis became the Managing Attorney of the Mason City office and in 1980, took over the position of Managing Attorney of the Cedar Rapids Regional Office. In 1983, he transferred to Des Moines to become a Senior Staff Attorney. In 1985, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director. In May, 1992 he became Iowa Legal Aid’s third Executive Director. Having served in these various capacities, Groenenboom has a background which provides him with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the various facets of Iowa Legal Aid’s operations.
Groenenboom’s innovative vision was recently recognized nationally at the 2008 Equal Justice Conference when Iowa Legal Aid received the "Innovations in Equal Justice Award.”
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Chris Luzzie Presented Arabella Mansfield Award
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Chris Luzzie Presented Arabella Mansfield Award
Iowa Legal Aid Attorney Honored by Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys
(Des Moines Iowa) June 30th 2008 – Chris Luzzie, deputy director of litigation for Iowa Legal Aid, was recently honored by the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys (I.O.W.A.) with the Arabella Mansfield Award. The presentation took place at the organization’s annual meeting June 19th at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines.
Luzzie, who works out of the Iowa City Regional Office of Iowa Legal Aid, has served as both a role model and a mentor for countless women attorneys both through her work in a leadership capacity at Iowa Legal Aid, and her involvement in the legal community where she has served on the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) Board of Governors and various ISBA committees among countless other activities.
“Chris’ impact on Iowa Legal Aid and the practice of poverty law in the state of Iowa is immense and Chris has been an effective mentor for women attorneys interested in public service for over 28 years. She has led by example,” declared Deb Tharnish, Vice President of Iowa Legal Aid’s Board of Directors, in nominating Luzzie.
The Arabella Mansfield Award was established to recognize outstanding women lawyers in Iowa who have promoted and nurtured women in the legal profession. Its namesake was the first woman lawyer admitted to practice law in the United States, joining the Iowa Bar in 1869. This, despite the fact that Iowa law then required an applicant for bar admission to be white, male and over the age of 21.
About Iowa Legal Aid:
Many Iowans, due to poverty, disability, or circumstance, struggle and lose their way in our legal system. Iowa Legal Aid exists to provide them access to justice. Ultimately Justice comes to mean housing families, providing safety from domestic abuse, and security for the nearly 45,000 predominately women, children, people with disabilities and elderly Iowans served each year. Iowa Legal Aid serves as a safety net for thousands of low-income Iowans who require legal representation to secure the basic necessities of their lives. In 2007, Iowa Legal Aid closed nearly 19,000 cases statewide.
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Iowa Legal Aid and the Floods of 2008
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Iowa Legal Aid Poised to Help with Disaster Recovery
Cedar Rapids Offices Continues to Provide Service Despite Flooding
(Des Moines Iowa) June 17 2008 – In the wake of a series of natural disasters that have struck Iowa in recent weeks, Iowa Legal Aid today reminds low-income Iowans of the availability of its services that might assist in the recovery process.
Iowa Legal Aid attorneys are available to assist qualified Iowans by providing:
· Advice on how to apply for Federal Assistance
· Help with appeals of denials of Federal Assistance
· Information on programs available to disaster victims
· Assistance with housing related legal issues arising due to weather related damage
· Advice on submitting or pursuing insurance claims
· Representation in any civil legal matter relating to the disasters
Iowa Legal Aid is a statewide non-profit social services agency which serves low-income Iowans typically at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Iowa Legal Aid staff and volunteer attorneys can provide all manner of civil legal counsel and representation to qualified Iowans struggling to recover from recent natural disasters.
To request assistance and determine their eligibility Iowans may call 1.800.532.1275 Monday through Friday from 9am to 11am and 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Emergency calls are taken throughout normal business hours.
While sustaining significant damage in the flooding, the Cedar Rapids Regional Office of Iowa Legal Aid continues to provide service to Iowans in that region of the state with the support of the organization’s other nine regional offices that together serve all 99 counties in Iowa.
About Iowa Legal Aid:
Many Iowans, due to poverty, disability, or circumstance, struggle and lose their way in our legal system. Iowa Legal Aid exists to provide them access to justice. Ultimately Justice comes to mean housing families, providing safety from domestic abuse, and security for the nearly 45,000 predominately women, children, people with disabilities and elderly Iowans served each year. Iowa Legal Aid serves as a safety net for thousands of low-income Iowans who require legal representation to secure the basic necessities of their lives. In 2007, Iowa Legal Aid closed nearly 19,000 cases statewide.
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Board Member Receives Governor's Volunteer Award
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ILA Board Member to be Recognized by Governor’s Volunteer Award
Scott Buchanan Honored for Extensive Volunteerism with Iowa Legal Aid
 Des Moines (June 2nd 2008) – Iowa Legal Aid board member Scott Buchanan of the firm Buchanan, Bibler, Buchanan & Gabor will be among those honored June 12 as a winner of the Governor’s Volunteer Award to be presented at Buena Vista University.
Buchanan was nominated for the distinction by Iowa Legal Aid for which he has served as a volunteer since 1988 and as a member of the Board of Directors since 1994. Additionally Buchanan has served as vice president and president of the Board of Directors and now serves on the inaugural board of directors for the Iowa Legal Aid Foundation.
His leadership during his 14 years on the board has served to engage countless Iowa attorneys as volunteers, donating their time to the mission of Iowa Legal Aid restoring hope and dignity to the lives of low-income Iowans who could not otherwise afford access to the civil judicial system.
Beyond the long hours spent in service through his board duties, Buchanan continues to donate his professional services as an attorney through the Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyer Project.
In addition to his service to Iowa Legal Aid, Buchanan serves as a Trustee of the Haggard-Twogood Charitable Remainder Trust and is active with the Sullivan Building Foundation. He and his wife Sandy are deeply committed to the enhancement of Algona’s cultural environment.
The Governor’s Volunteer Award program is observing its 25th annual recognition of volunteers for the commitment, service and time that they contribute to Iowa’s government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
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Iowa Legal Aid Awarded National Recognition
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Iowa Legal Aid Awarded National Recognition
Technology serving low-income Iowans earns innovation acclaim
Des Moines (May 20th 2008) – The National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s (NLADA) Innovations in  Equal Justice Award was recently presented to Iowa Legal Aid at the 2008 Equal Justice Conference in Minneapolis.
The award recognizes success in the application of technology toward better serving the legal needs of low-income individuals. In granting the award NLADA noted that Iowa Legal Aid has long been a leader in the development of new technologies and specifically cited several projects including; an online case management system, and a website which provides community legal education materials to both Iowans in need of legal services and the volunteer attorneys statewide that assist Iowa Legal Aid in providing those services.
The website offers a ‘live chat’ feature which allows visitors to talk in real time to an Iowa Legal Aid employee who will help them navigate the website to find the information they seek.
Iowa Legal Aid is currently developing a web based ‘intake’ system that would allow low-income Iowans to request help from any Internet connected computer.
‘These technological innovations allow us to extend our service to thousands of Iowans who we could not otherwise assist’ noted executive director Dennis Groenenboom.
About Iowa Legal Aid:
Many Iowans, due to poverty, disability, or circumstance, struggle and lose their way in our legal system. Iowa Legal Aid exists to provide them access to justice. Ultimately Justice comes to mean housing families, providing safety from domestic abuse, and security for the nearly 45,000 predominately women, children, people with disabilities and elderly Iowans served each year. Iowa Legal Aid serves as a safety net for thousands of low-income Iowans who require legal representation to secure the basic necessities of their lives. In 2007, Iowa Legal Aid closed nearly 19,000 cases statewide.
About NLADA:
NLADA is the nation's leading advocate for front-line attorneys and other equal justice professionals - those who make a difference in the lives of low-income clients and their families and communities. Representing legal aid and defender programs, as well as individual advocates, NLADA is proud to be the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership association devoting 100 percent of its resources to serving the broad equal justice community.
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Iowa Legal Aid Receives $10,000 Grant from Prairie Meadows
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Iowa Legal Aid Receives $10,000 Grant from Prairie Meadows
 (Des Moines Iowa) March 18, 2008 – Iowa Legal Aid has received a $10,000 grant from Prairie meadows Racetrack and Casino through its 2007 Community Betterment Grant program. Grants were awarded in late December with Iowa Legal Aid receiving allocated funds in January 2008.
The funds will update aging and failing technology in the organizations office, improving office efficiency and service delivery.
The Prairie Meadows Grants Advisory Committee, comprised of education, religious and business leaders from the greater metro area, review all grant requests and recommends funding levels. This year, more than 190 projects shared in the funding allocations from Prairie Meadows.
“Increasingly improvements in non-profit technologies mean improvements in non-profit service, these funds will leverage our existing resources to a higher level” commented Dennis Groenenboom, executive director of the statewide organization.
Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants area located to four categories: arts & culture, economic development, education, and human services.
Since 1995 Prairie Meadows has contributed more than $362 million to promote education, economic development, agriculture, jobs and tourism in Iowa.
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Equal Justice After Hours 2008
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Iowa Legal Aid Honors Conlin and Welcomes Kaul
 Des Moines (February 11th 2008) – Iowa Legal Aid has announced the election of Roxanne Barton Conlin to the Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place during this years “Equal Justice After Hours”, the non-profit’s annual gala to launch its fundraising campaign. In addition to the induction, the audience will be addressed by former Des Moines Register columnist Donald Kaul.
The event will take place March 13th at 6pm at the Hotel Fort Des Moines; tickets are available from Iowa Legal Aid for $50.
Conlin, a nationally recognized litigator on behalf of those harmed by others and a winner of numerous honors for both her legal and political efforts, is being honored for her longstanding support of the mission of Iowa Legal Aid. In particular, the former gubernatorial candidate has given great assistance to the Iowa Legal Aid Equal Justice Project, a program dedicated to addressing, at a systemic level, the legal issues of victims of domestic abuse.
Conlin will enter a Hall of Fame which includes such Iowa luminaries as Governor Robert Ray, Senator Tom Harkin, Attorney General Tom Miller, Congressman Neal Smith and philanthropist Elizabeth Kruidenier.
Providing entertainment and insight at the event will be former Des Moines Register columnist and co-founder of RAGBRAI, Donald Kaul. Returning to Iowa on the heels of the Iowa Caucuses, Kaul, a two time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, will share his always enjoyable insights into the workings of the body politic.
Sonya Heitshusen of WHO TV will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the program which is preceded by a social hour beginning at 6pm.
The event is made possible in part through the Platinum Sponsorship of Aviva.
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Mid Iowa Health Foundation Awards Support to Iowa Legal Aid Health and Law Project
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Des Moines Iowa (January 17, 2008)—The Mid Iowa Health Foundation has provided Iowa Legal Aid a $10,000 grant in support of the organization’s Health and Law Project. The funding is a part of the Foundation’s twice annual ‘Community Response Grant’ program. The community response program is focused upon projects that affect specific health results in a target population. The Iowa Legal Aid grant was one of several awarded in December of 2007.
The $10,000 sum will assist with the personnel costs associated with the Health and Law Project operating out of Iowa Legal Aid’s Central Iowa Regional Office in Des Moines. The Health and Law Project is a collaborative endeavor targeting the often overlooked, or unaddressed systemic issues that result in chronic health related matters for low-income families.
Health care professionals can address medical issues; however, medical issues are not always the underlying contributor for the symptoms presented. Many low-income Iowans find themselves in an endless cycle of health related issues, frequently treating symptoms rather than causes. Such cases would include issues of domestic abuse, unhealthy rental housing, or cases of inadequate nutrition.
In every case a doctor could treat the symptoms, but an attorney would be required alleviate the cause. In many cases the systemic cause of the cycle of poor health truly lies in the legal arena more than the health field. Additionally the program has helped many with the complex social security disability and Medicare processes that often intimidate and exclude those unfamiliar with administrative law.
The Health and Law Project, a partnership in Des Moines with Primary Health Care, is based on a model started by the Family Advocacy Program at the Boston Medical Clinic, and successfully replicated at over 40 clinical sites nationwide. The program provides the added value of reducing the health care expenses of both the client and the community.
In addition to Des Moines, the Iowa Legal Aid Health and Law Project operates out of three other Iowa Legal Aid regional offices in Ottumwa, Sioux City and Council Bluffs. Additional financial support for the project has come from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Iowa Bar Foundation, West Bancorporation, Principal Financial Group, Prairie Meadows and Dorsey & Whitney Law Firm.
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