Resources for Tough Times

The American Bar Association (ABA)

Provides comprehensive economic recovery resources including information on:

· job search/networking tips and articles
· professional development
· career transition
· practice management and
· stress management.
Visit: http://new.abanet.org/economicrecovery/default.aspx

COMMUNITY- BASED RESOURCES
Unemployment Benefits:

For information on unemployment benefits in Florida, visit the State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation website at: http://www.floridajobs.org/index.html.

For information on unemployment benefits in other states, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website at http://www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm.

The Department of Labor also offers other resources to job seekers: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) offers employment-related assistance to workers impacted by layoffs to improve their re-employment prospects and prepare for job transitions. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) provides information on health and retirement benefit rights to help American workers make decisions regarding their health coverage in case of job loss. Find information on these programs at: http://www.dol.gov/dol/highlights/highlights-more.htm#job_loss.

Student Loans:

You may be eligible for deferral, forbearance, or consolidation of your student loans. Information is available at: https://www.dl.ed.gov/borrower/BorrowerWelcomePage.jsp.

If you work for a government or non-profit organization you may qualify for loan forgiveness under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa.

Foreclosure Information:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers information and resources on avoiding foreclosure at: http://www.hud.gov/local/fl/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm.

Credit Counseling:

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a non-profit organization, offers comprehensive, confidential counseling that addresses individual financial situations and identifies options in the person’s best interests: http://www.cccservices.com/index.html.

Other Benefits:

Information on food stamps, temporary cash assistance and Medicaid is available at http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/.

WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Information on assistance in Florida: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/wic/.

Information on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/tanf/about.html.

Mental Health Counseling:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides information on mental health resources. Information on Florida resources is available at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/MHDR.aspx?D1=FL&Type=MDR.

Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. is a non-profit corporation created to identify and offer assistance to bar members who suffer from substance abuse, mental health, or other disorders which negatively affect their lives and careers: http://www.fla-lap.org/.