MILS attorneys will provide legal assistance to Native American individuals faced with a loss of essential services, when other legal assistance is unavailable. For example:

• As resources permit, MILS will assist clients. . .

  1. 1. • in expunging tribal and Michigan juvenile delinquency and criminal convictions.

        • with expungement from the Central Child Abuse and Neglect Registry.

• MILS may represent individuals who will lose public benefits or benefits guaranteed to other citizens in situations that involve federal Indian law or tribal law (e.g, the Jay Treaty, Michigan Indian Land Claims Act, tribal Revenue Allocation Plans, etc).

• As resources permit, MILS attorneys will assist clients in seeking the restoration of driving privileges at the administrative level.

• MILS will assist clients in securing needed health care. As examples, permissible activities under this priority include:

  1. 1. • cases or matters which seek to secure medical services or coverage for low income persons.

          1. 1. • this includes MA, Medicare, SMA, RCHP, private insurance, etc.

• medical Power of Attorneys.

• cases or matters which seek payment for services already provided or which seek relief from medical debt.

• MILS will advocate for low income persons within the legal system so that low income persons have full and fair access to that system.

• MILS will attempt, through its legal work, to strengthen the Native communities. MILS is part of a network of agencies providing services to the community’s poorest citizens. In many instances, the quality of life for the community’s poorest citizens is affected by more general community initiatives. MILS should engage in work intended to improve services to the low income community and in work which strengthens the community as a whole.

• MILS will attempt, through its legal work, to strengthen the families within the Native communities. Many of MILS’s case specific priorities are in areas that support the integrity, safety, and well-being of the family. Because of the importance of the family to our society and to our communities, cases and matters which have the goal of strengthening families are permissible cases.