Judges And Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA) provides grants to support legal and social services to cancer victims and their families, particularly those who could not otherwise afford them, as well as selected education efforts. Grant funds are raised by our Lawyers’ Division at our annual dinner and through membership dues.

 

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<h3 style=”font-weight: 300;”>FUNDS AWARDED FOR  2021-2022</h3>

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<strong>MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VANS – $175,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong> New York City, Western New York</strong>

JALBCA awarded grants totaling $175,000 for 2021-2022, to subsidize the cost of vans that provide free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women in underserved communities in the NYC metropolitan area and Western New York. JALBCA sponsors free mammography vans, provided by Project Renewal’s ScanVan Project in the NYC metropolitan area and by the ECMC Foundation’s Early Detection & Education through Mobile Mammography Screening project in Western New York.

<strong>THE CENTER FOR ELDER LAW & JUSTICE/THE MEDLAW PARTNERSHIP OF WESTERN NEW YORK – $110,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
The Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) provides free civil legal services to adults throughout Western New York, and reaches health care patients in need of legal assistance through the MedLaw Partnership of Western New York. Attorneys are embedded at several area hospitals and health care facilities in Buffalo, New York, to provide assistance with legal matters that may be impacting an individual’s overall health. Funding from JALBCA supports legal aid for breast cancer patients and survivors, and individuals at risk of the disease.

Legal issues involving housing, health insurance, income maintenance, employment rights, access to benefits, advanced planning, and consumer debt are common among the clients served, and at times may even be a barrier to receiving needed treatment.  The highest percentage of casework falls under the category of personal and family stability, which includes issues such as custody and visitation, domestic or elder abuse, consumer debt, wills and estates, health care proxies, and powers of attorney. CELJ’s MedLaw Partnership also provides community education and outreach, and we trust our advocacy efforts help to address the needs of individuals with a history of breast cancer.

<strong>THE FAMILY CENTER’S MAITE AQUINO PROGRAM — $135,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong>Brooklyn, New York</strong>
In honor of beloved attorney, mother, and wife, Maite Aquino, The Family Center’s Maite Aquino Program helps low-income NYC families with minor children cope with the myriad effects of breast cancer. By providing holistic legal services, accessible legal information, and connection to social services and support, the Program helps maintain long-term stability across multiple fronts for the breast cancer patient and her children.

<strong>THE JUDGE JUDITH KAYE PROJECT AT THE FAMILY CENTER — $115,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong>Brooklyn, New York</strong>
The Judge Judith Kaye Project at The Family Center provides accessible, holistic legal services and other support to NYC women facing breast cancer with limited financial and social resources. The Project also provides education on legal topics of importance to those facing breast cancer through presentations and workshops for patient groups, cancer providers, and others. Named for Chief Judge Kaye to celebrate her extraordinary achievements and commitment to public service, the Project helps ensure women coping with breast cancer have access to income, health care, stable housing and family relationships, and a plan for the future.

<strong>CITY BAR JUSTICE CENTER/CANCER ADVOCACY PROJECT – $66,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong> New York, New York</strong>
The Cancer Advocacy Project (CAP) is one of the City Bar Justice Center’s founding projects. It provides free legal assistance to low- and moderate-income cancer patients and survivors and their caregivers in New York City, focusing on (i) preparation of life planning documents, (ii) health insurance-related issues, and (iii) cancer-related employment discrimination. Experienced attorneys volunteer their time and expertise with CAP to counsel clients and prepare life planning documents, i.e., basic Wills, Health Care Proxies, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Disposition of Remains directives. The health insurance component assists with unjust denials of coverage by medical insurance companies, and employment discrimination assistance includes information, advice and counseling on workplace discrimination and employee rights and options, including guidance on accommodation requests and FMLA leave. In addition, CAP conducts community presentations on those topics plus medical debt, for cancer-related organizations, support groups and medical service providers throughout NYC. The project also schedules periodic Life-Planning/Wills Clinics and workshops on medical debt. CAP has created a series of user-friendly guides, many of which are available in English and Spanish

<strong>NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION FUND – $50,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong> Washington D.C.</strong>
The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund’s science training program,  provides breast cancer advocates with the education and training they need in order to understand complex medical information and to play a leadership role in research and health care.

<strong>LEGAL SERVICES OF THE HUDSON VALLEY/LSHV BREAST CANCER HEALTH ADVOCACY PROJECT – $100,000 for 2021-2022</strong>
<strong>White Plains, NY<strong>
Through JALBCA’s funding award, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) created the Breast Cancer Advocacy Project, which consists of a dedicated attorney to provide civil legal services to low-income breast cancer patients and survivors managing their treatment and its after effects In Westchester County. While cancer patients and their families should be focusing on treatment and well-being, they are often simultaneously struggling with legal issues related to health insurance coverage, consumer debt, permanency planning, maintaining stable permanent housing and more. LSHV’s Breast Cancer Advocacy Project anticipates handling 100 cases this year. In collaborating with many community partners including White Plains Hospital Cancer Center, Gilda’s Club, and the Cancer Support Center, families impacted by breast cancer will gain peace of mind that their unique and often complex civil legal needs are being addressed so that they can focus on healing and enjoying life. Founded more than 50 years ago, LSHV serves the seven counties of the Hudson Valley (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan), maintaining a staff of 165 individuals working across ten offices throughout its service area. The Breast Cancer Advocacy Project is located out of LSHV’s White Plains Office.

<strong>SHARE: SELF-HELP FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST OR OVARIAN CANCER – $15,000 for 2021-2022<strong>
<strong>New York, NY<strong>
For 2021-2022, JALBCA awarded a grant of $15,000 to SHARE for its Education & Outreach for the Latina Community: Legal Issues & Breast Cancer program.