A Brief History of Wisconsin Judicare’s
Native American Elders Outreach Project (NAEOP)
The Native American Elders Outreach Project (NAEOP) began in March 1993 with a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Community Services. Over the last twelve years, one of the primary components of the project has been presentation to Native American elders at tribal nutrition sites. These presentations have generally focused on health care and income maintenance programs. Staff attorneys from Wisconsin Judicare visit meal sites and given brief updates on changes to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans Benefits that may affect Native American elders. Currently, we are focusing on the Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) and how it affects our tribal elders. A staff attorney is then made available to meet with individual elders to answer legal questions and, in some cases, provide legal representation or a referral to another attorney. Additional emphasis has also been put on attending tribal “fairs” and events that target the elderly or disabled population. Our recent appearance at this year’s Indian Summer in Milwaukee was a great success in getting our program more widely known.
A portion of the NAEOP grant funds has also been used to create videos and booklets for Native American Elders. In 1997, Wisconsin Judicare filmed a video entitled, “Wisconsin Indian Elders - Health Care & Income Maintenance: 10 Common Questions & Answers” and produced a booklet entitled “Knowing Your Rights: A Guide to Wisconsin Indian Elders’ Health Care & Income Maintenance Benefits” which was distributed to tribal elders and aging unit directors. More recently, the project helped fund the creation and distribution of the Wisconsin Native American Elders Resource Directory 2000 and an update in 2004 and 2005.
Finally, the NAEOP organizes roundtable discussions and training sessions for elder advocates, tribal benefit specialists, county benefit specialists, and tribal healthcare advocates. Topics discussed include the provision of services to Native American elders and the availability of public benefits that are unique to Native Americans.
All Native American elders in Wisconsin are eligible to participate in the project. This project provides free outreach, information, and representation to Native American elders throughout Wisconsin on health and income maintenance topics including Medicare, Medical Assistance, Social Security, SSI and Veteran's Benefits. There is no financial eligibility test. For more information, contact Staff Attorney Sunshine Lemieux at (800) 472-1638.
Wisconsin Native American Elders Resource Directory 2000
Apply-Online for Social Security Benefits
Last Updated: November 4, 2007
Disclaimer of Liability
Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. provides the information on this Web site as a public service to low-income persons in northern Wisconsin, our participating attorneys, card issuers, and other Internet users. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not legal advice. Laws vary from state to state and even federal laws may be applied differently in different states. Moreover, due to the rapidly changing nature of the law and our reliance upon information provided by outside sources, Wisconsin Judicare makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content at this site or at other sites to which Judicare.org links.
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