Case Acceptance Criteria

Case Acceptance Criteria

Our Protection and Advocacy programs have multiple factors for determining to what extent we can offer services based on the issue and person's situation.  Below is a list of criteria that provides guidance to the advocacy teams in making those determinations:

  • Relevance to our Areas of Focus
  • Likelihood that the case will impact a larger group of people or provide DRW with an inroad into an area/issue previously identified as difficult to address.
  • Relative strength of the individual’s claim.
  • Membership in a group, and/or area of the state identified as underserved by DRW.
  • Availability and effectiveness of alternative mechanisms, remedies or other advocacy resources – either paid or volunteer. DRW will generally not provide services where a court-appointed advocate is available or the individual has access to other legal advocacy resources. However, in such circumstances DRW may provide back-up or support. Exceptions may be made where the non-DRW advocate takes a position contrary to the client’s interest, or requires advocacy assistance on an issue of broad importance.
  • Inability of the individual, family, friend or other interested person to self advocate.
  • Social or economic factors which increase the individual’s vulnerability, such as ethnic or minority status.
  • Immediacy, severity and/or long-term effect of the harm to the individual.
  • Availability of financial and staff resources.
  • Likelihood that the individual will suffer or is at risk of abuse, neglect or inhumane conditions if DRW does not undertake the case.