Community Legal Aid Attorney recognized for leadership and advocacy
Wayne Sarna receives Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Denis J. Murphy Award Attorney Wayne Sarna is the 2023 recipient of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Denis J. Murphy Award. The Denis J. Murphy Award is presented annually to re...
Addressing the burden of consumer debt
by Wayne Sarna, staff attorney Americans carry over 900 billion dollars in credit card debt - an amount that has increased dramatically in recent years. We see this issue every day, as the majority of clients who come to us at Community ...
Why can’t we get our arms around the eviction crisis?
by Steven McGarrity, executive director Many things about our lives have gone back to where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Family gatherings. Public events. And evictions. Nearly four years...
Best practices for serving veterans
An interview with Derick Young, Marine veteran and director of the Mahoning County Honor Court November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and this week the Big Ideas team was honored to interview Retired Marine SSgt Deric...
ODVN’s Fatality Reports: Sobering Insight into Intimate Partner Violence Trends in Ohio
Content warning: the following article deals with violence against adults and children. An interview with Lisa DeGeeter, Director of Systems Advocacy and Policy Counsel - Ohio Domestic Violence Network and Maria York, Policy Director - Ohio Do...
Legal Aid wins competitive grant for medical-legal partnership
Akron one of eight communities in US to receive federal funding Community Legal Aid has received a $214,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide legal assistance to Akron Children’s Hospital families. ...
Protecting Survivors: Understanding 10Gs and CPOs
by Henna Schafer and Marie Moore, staff attorneys If you know even a little about domestic violence, you’ve probably heard of a Civil Protection Order (CPO). In Ohio, CPOs have long been the first and best remedy for many survivors. Issu...
When Social Security hurts the people it’s meant to help
by Michelle Wrona Fox, managing attorney A recent wave of Social Security overpayment determinations is garnering national media attention and causing devastating financial impact and stress for many. According to reports, over $21...
The intersection of housing instability and crime
Content warning: the following article explores the intersection of housing instability, mental health, and crime and includes mention of violence that resulted in death. by Melissa Frangos, staff attorney Jordan Neely was a...
Ohio's Troubling Wave of Medicaid Redeterminations
By Marie Curry, managing attorney In the medical field, doctors may recommend engaging in “watchful waiting”. This is the practice of allowing some time to pass so that a medical issue can evolve or resolve before a treatment course is d...