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THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT.
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THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT “We believe that the preferred solution is to provide multiple points of access to an integrated system, which, from the client’s perspective, is seamless.”“Through partnerships, formal or informal, organizations can share expertise, pool resources (such as interpreters and technology), coordinate services, provide training, distribute legal information, and conduct outreach to target populations.”Karen Cohl and George Thomson: Connecting Across Language and Distance: Linguistic and Rural Access to Legal Information and Services – The Report of the Linguistic and Rural Access to Justice Project to the Law Foundation of Ontario, Dec. 2008
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT • A three-year Ottawa-based access to justice project, currently funded by The Law Foundation of Ontario: • for low income individuals who do not speak English or French • for low income individuals with a disability which affects their ability to communicate
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT • GOVERNANCE – by an Advisory Group of partner organizations: • Community Legal Services (Ottawa Centre) • Le ConseilEconomique et Social d’Ottawa-Carleton • The In Community • Jewish Family Services • Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre • Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre • South Ottawa Community Legal Services • Social Planning Council of Ottawa • Community Information Centre Ottawa / 211
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT • Current size of network: 41 organizations • 17 Community Services • 10 Immigrant Services • 9 Legal Services • 4 Services for People with Disabilities • 1 Interpretation and Translation Service
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT THE PLAN • Direct frontline community workers to the legal information and legal advice needed by their clients using our websites [connectingottawa.com ; connexionottawa.com] • Provide cross-sectoral consultation services to frontline workers using a lawyer and a social worker • Develop a pool of “trusted intermediaries” trained to support clients to connect with the legal and social services to which they are referred • Coordinate a program of public legal education for frontline workers, service providers and communities
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT THE PLAN • Promote 211 as a coordinated hub for information, assessment and referral services • Subsidize the costs of connecting a client with legal and social services: interpretation, translation and/or transportation, when necessary • Coordinate a sustainable network of community partners • Share our lessons learned
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT • David Hole, Project Coordinator • 613-816-0180 • david@connectingottawa.com • Natalie Drolet, Lawyer • 613-402-9437 • natalie@connectingottawa.com • Marian Green, Social Worker • 613-402-9376 • marian@connectingottawa.com www.facebook.com/connectingottawa @connectottawa