KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Cardinal Services has announced that it is partnering with Indiana Legal Services, Inc. to help improve services and health outcomes for people with disabilities by effectively addressing legal issues that impact them. ILS is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people throughout the state of Indiana. 

Cardinal Services CEO, Randy Hall expressed confidence in the partnership. “The people we serve are widely acknowledged to be among the most vulnerable, underserved, and underrepresented people in our society. The expertise and professional services being offered by ILS will be a tremendous asset.”

Cardinal Services is one of four disability service providers in Northeast Indiana to collaborate with ILS in this endeavor, which is made possible by a generous grant from the AWS Foundation. ILS will build on its Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) model to include services for people with developmental disabilities. A full time attorney will manage this program which includes three key areas of focus:

• Benefit appeals for Medicaid and Social Security Disability
• Expungement of criminal records
• Guardianship with a focus on supported decision making

The program launched on Dec. 1 with participating agencies making referrals to the MLP program. In addition to Cardinal Services, agencies include Benchmark Human Services, Fort Wayne; Pathfinders Services, Huntington; and Passages, Inc., Columbia City.