Tennessee Justice Center Inc

TJC USES THE LAW AND ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THAT TENNESSEANS CAN MEET THEIR MOST BASIC NEEDS.

TJC PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND ON BEHALF OF LARGE GROUPS OF VULNERABLE, LOW-INCOME TENNESSEANS. DURING 2021, TJC HANDLED 1,796 CASES FOR VULNERABLE CLIENTS IN THE RESOLUTION OF THEIR LEGAL PROBLEMS, SOME OF WHICH INVOLVED ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS PROCEDURES OUTSIDE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. TJC ALSO ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN GENERAL SESSIONS COURT BY CREATING RESOURCES AND PUSHING REFORMS THAT MAKE THIS COURT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO UNREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS. TJC CONDUCTED TRAINING FOR PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO ENABLE THEM TO HANDLE SUCH APPEALS ON A PRO BONO BASIS. THESE CASES SERVED THE PUBLIC BY PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW BY HOLDING GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, AND BY AFFORDING ACCESS TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW TO INDIGENT CLIENTS WHO WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ABLE TO VINDICATE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. TJC ALSO PARTNERED WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS THROUGH TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP TO HELP THEIR PATIENTS ACCESS NECESSARY COVERAGE, AVOID MEDICAL DEBT, AND SUPPORT THE HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE ON WHICH ALL TENNESSEANS DEPEND. IN ADDITION TO THOSE SERVICES, THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATED THE FOLLOWING CASE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN 2021: A.M.C. V. SMITH (TENNCARE DISENROLLMENT): THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED ON MARCH 19, 2020. TJC AND COCOUNSEL HAVE ENGAGED IN THE DISCOVERY PROCESS WITH THE STATE FOLLOWING A SUBSEQUENT JUNE BRIEFING ON THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AND CLASS CERTIFICATION MOTIONS, AS WELL AS A MOTION BY THE STATE TO DISMISS. DISCOVERY IN THE AMC CASE IN SUMMER 2021 DISCLOSED THE FACT THAT TENNCARE HAD UNWITTINGLY TERMINATED THE COVERAGE OF 3,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO REMAINED ELIGIBLE, PROMPTING THE STATE TO REINSTATE THEIR COVERAGE.MCCUTCHEN V. BECERRA (BLOCK GRANT): IN JANUARY 2021, WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NEARLY OUT OF OFFICE, CMS APPROVED TENNESSEE'S AMENDMENT CONVERTING TENNCARE TO A BLOCK GRANT FOR TEN YEARS. THIS IS A CASE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. THE TENNCARE BLOCK GRANT, IF ALLOWED TO STAND, POSES THE MOST SERIOUS NATIONAL THREAT TO THE MEDICAID PROGRAM SINCE CONGRESS NARROWLY DEFEATED THE 2017 BILL TO REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND BLOCK GRANT MEDICAID BY STATUTORY AMENDMENT. M.A.C. V. SMITH (DIDD HOME CARE): ON JULY 2, 2021, TJC'S LITIGATION TEAM FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE INEQUITIES ASSOCIATED WITH TENNCARE ENROLLEES' HOME CARE AS PART OF THE DIDD WAIVER. THE FIRST CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE WITH THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE STATE FILED A MOTION TO DISMISS AND A MOTION TO STAY DISCOVERY DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS.

TJC'S MEDICAID, INDEPENDENCE AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH ADVOCACY PROGRAMS FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF TENNESSEANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND HAVE LOW INCOME, BY ENSURING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. TJC IS CURRENTLY LEADING A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO GET THE TN LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND TENNCARE. TJC ENGAGES ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS TO CONTACT TN LAWMAKERS TO ASK THEM TO DRAW DOWN $1.4 BILLION/YEAR IN FEDERAL HEALTH CARE FUNDING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO 300,000 TENNESSEANS (INCLUDING 24,000 VETERANS), GENERATE 15,000 JOBS, PROTECT THE STATE'S RURAL HOSPITALS, AND PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. TJC'S INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM AIMS TO ENSURE SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILTIES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. TJC HELPS INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS, PROVIDES TRAINING SESSIONS TO HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ADVOCATES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE WITH SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND INDEPENDENCE. ALSO AMONG TJC'S GOALS IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN TENNESSEE IS ENROLLED IN HEALTH INSURANCE AND THAT PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS WORK EFFECTIVELY TO MEET CHILDREN'S NEEDS. THE TEAM EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, POLICYMAKERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAL CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS MEDICAID AND THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP), AND THE NEED TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THESE PROGRAMS TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN TENNESSEE. IT ALSO EDUCATES COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAININGS, EDUCATION MATERIALS, AND A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

TJC'S NUTRITION ADVOCACY PROGRAM SUPPORTS GREATER ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE NUTRITION, INCLUDING DEFENDING AND IMPROVING SAFETY NET PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) AND SCHOOL-BASED MEAL PROGRAMS. TJC PROTECTS THESE PROGRAMS AGAINST CUTS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. TJC EDUCATES AND CONVENES OTHER AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO INTERSECT WITH LOW INCOME TENNESSEANS. OUR TEAM WORKS WITH LOW-INCOME CLIENTS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY DENIED OR LOST THEIR SNAP BENEFITS. WE ADDRESS CHILD HUNGER AND POVERTY THROUGH WIC EXPANSION EFFORTS AND ADVOCATING FOR STRONGER CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. WE EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW NUTRITION PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND WIC PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR TENNESSEANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AND PULL FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. OVER 1,000 STAKEHOLDERS RECEIVE OUR MONTHLY UPDATES AND DOZENS OF PARTNERS STATEWIDE JOIN US AT TRAININGS AND REGIONAL ANTI-HUNGER MEETINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A STATE WHERE NO TENNESSEAN GOES HUNGRY.IN 2021, TJC CONTINUED TO PLAY A PIVOTAL AND CRUCIAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT TENNESSEE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PANDEMIC-EBT, A BENEFIT CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS AS A PART OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM (NSLP). TJC ALSO WORKED WITH REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PARTNERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO HELP AFGHAN REFUGEES RECEIVE MUCH-NEEDED NUTRITION BENEFITS FOLLOWING THEIR DESPERATE EVACUATION FROM KABUL AND SUBSEQUENT ARRIVAL IN TENNESSEE.