Partnering for Native Health AmeriCorps Member

Partnering for Native Health AmeriCorps Member
Michigan Indian Legal Services – Medical-Legal Partnership Legal Advocate


Partnering for Native Health is an award-winning multidisciplinary project that embeds AmeriCorps Members in the tribal health care system to address the health-harming legal needs

Why become an AmeriCorps Member?

  • Help your community: Know that you are giving your time, talent, wisdom, and experience to your community and neighbors who need you.
  • Help yourself: Through service, you can add to the quality and health of your life. Research indicates that volunteers enjoy better health, make new friendships, stay active and involved in the community, and learn new skills.
  • Make a difference: Be part of a national movement to transform America through the involvement of its citizens.
  • Save money for the organizations you serve: By donating your time and skills, you help make funds go farther for organizations that address critical needs in your community.

 

Term of Service: To successfully complete term of service, members are required to complete 1700 hours of service within 365 days. Members may be eligible to continue their service for additional one-year terms.

Schedule: Full Time

Michigan Indian Legal Services is a sub-grantee of a multi-state grant from AmeriCorps to host one-year AmeriCorps members to facilitate a Medical-Legal partnership (MLP) program serving American Indians and Alaskan Natives throughout the U.S. Twenty-one members will be recruited throughout the U.S. as follows: ten members in Alaska (various locations), four members in Oklahoma (Tahlequah, OK), three members in New Mexico (various locations) and one member in each Arizona (Phoenix), Michigan (Traverse City), Montana (Helena), and Utah (Montezuma Creek). The member selected will be housed at: Michigan Indian Legal Services. AmeriCorps Member will ideally begin in September of 2021 and in place for one year. Members may be eligible to continue their service for additional one-year terms.

Practice Areas: Children’s Rights, Consumer Protection/Debt/Bankruptcy, Disability Law/Rights, Education, Elder Law, Employment/Labor, Family Law, General Legal Services, Health Law, Housing/Landlord-Tenant, Juvenile Issues, LGBTQ, Litigation, Alaska Native/Native American/Indian/Tribal Law, Poverty, Probate/Trust & Estate Issues, Public Benefits/Social Security, Racial Justice Issues, Women’s Rights

Member Description

AmeriCorps member will offer trainings for health providers and comprehensive legal assistance for low- income patients at partnering hospital or health clinic serving tribes. By focusing on cases that promote income growth, housing stability, and personal safety, the MLP uses legal advocacy as a tool to address social determinants of health. The AmeriCorps member position is open at Michigan Indian Legal Services.

The AmeriCorps Member will provide direct legal help to low-income patients at Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Health Services and Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians Health Clinic. Areas of legal advocacy include public benefits, housing, special education, domestic violence, elder law, family law, and consumer law. The AmeriCorps Member will be responsible for providing periodic trainings and presentations to providers at medical facilities, as well as for regularly consulting with medical providers.

Additionally, AmeriCorps member will recruit new volunteers from local health partners and assist in their training. AmeriCorps member will coordinate volunteer activity, including tracking progress of volunteers and matching volunteers with clients.

Although AmeriCorps members will work independently at their local location, member will be part of a national collaborative network of members to improve social determinants of health for Native American and Alaska Native people. All AmeriCorps members will attend an MLP Boot Camp (location and dates TBD, travel expenses will be covered). The MLP Boot Camp will train each member on vision of the project and arm each member with the tools to nurture each new Medical-Legal Partnerships.

Each member will have a local attorney supervisor for day-to-day activities. Project support will be provided by the MLP Project Director, including monthly conference calls and AmeriCorps updates.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Over 18 with a high school diploma or GED: law school degree or equivalent work experience preferred
  • Passion for increasing access to justice for marginalized individuals
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of contexts
  • Prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments
  • Basic Computer Proficiency
  • A driver’s license and personal means of transportation highly recommended
  • Ability to travel throughout the surrounding region
  • Those with experience regarding Indian Law strongly encouraged to apply
  • Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.

Benefits:

  • Annual living allowance of $28,558
  • An AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,195 upon successful completion of This award can be used to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, for education training and resources, or to repay qualified student loans. Members aged 55 and over may transfer the education award to a child, grandchild or foster child.
  • Eligible for deferment on qualified student loans
  • Health benefits
  • Child care assistance if qualified
  • Hands-on experience and training in the legal field

Member placement is contingent upon ability to pass AmeriCorps, State and Tribal-mandated criminal background checks

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should apply online at MyAmeriCorps.gov

Please direct any question to:

Cameron Ann Fraser, Executive Director
Michigan Indian Legal Services
814 S Garfield Avenue, Suite A Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 947-0122
cfraser@mils.org

Date Posted