California's Senior Legal Hotline (SLH), the state Department of Aging (CDA), and the Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) will undertake a three-year partnership to better meet the legal needs of many more seniors, targeting the most needy among the state's huge, diverse population and reducing serious disparities in the existing availability of legal help.

Goal: Increase the availability of low-cost, high-quality legal assistance to seniors through improved coordination among SLH, local senior legal services providers (SLSPs), CDA and others.

Objectives:

• Conduct assessments of seniors' legal needs and of gaps in the existing delivery system;
• Convene SLSPs, CDA, area agencies on aging (AAAs) and SLH to set policies that will improve efficiency through service coordination and reduced duplication;
• Build providers' capacity to deliver low-cost, high-quality services, from self-help options to representation;
• Increase volunteer participation at SLSPs and SLH, focusing especially on the State Bar's recently expanded Pro Bono Practice Program;
• Harness the aging and legal services networks, media, and more for targeted outreach;
• Establish a permanent body of stakeholders - CDA, AAAs, SLSPs, seniors and others - to provide feedback and advocate for expansion of senior legal services;
• Strive to increase support for and sustainability and growth of SLH and SLSPs

Outcomes: Better access to legal services, many more seniors served, problems resolved, keeping them safe and helping them maintain independence; more pro bono volunteers; greater efficiency and better results through increased coordination and collaboration.