Q&A
MOIA's process for handling requests for legal assistance
0:43:55
ยท
3 min
Council Member Aviles questions MOIA representatives about their process for handling requests for legal assistance. Commissioner Castro and other MOIA staff explain their referral system and the scope of their services.
- MOIA primarily works through contracted nonprofit providers for legal services
- Callers to 311 or MOIA hotlines are referred to these contracted providers
- MOIA does not provide direct legal services in-house but outsources to legal service providers
- The agency's role is mainly to help people navigate and clarify their questions before referring them to appropriate partners
Manuel Castro
0:43:55
We do often get requests from, attorneys, in the community as a whole and, members of our legal services team do field many requests for assistance, whether it's, letters of support and so forth.
0:44:13
So in practice, we do have a robust, constituent services team who who engages, on a day to day with, these requests.
Alexa Aviles
0:44:27
So, so let's walk through the robust whether it is in fact robust.
0:44:33
Tell us what currently happens when when people call either 311 or are asking for legal assistance.
Manuel Castro
0:44:42
So as you know, much of our work at Moya, happens through our contracted nonprofit providers.
0:44:52
If someone does call 311, they will be referred to one of our contracted nonprofit providers or to the, General Moa hotline or to the Moa Immigration and Legal Services hotline, where they will be, assisted with their particular questions and requests.
0:45:12
We have an external affairs team that both does the direct outreach, and also the constituent services work that also, is there to respond to any questions that may arise.
0:45:27
Again, you know, as I, shared in my testimony, we are, in the process of establishing, immigration legal support centers in immigrant communities so people have access to these services directly where they live.
0:45:44
The existing legal services program, has a hotline that, people will receive information and referrals to providers, and there, they will receive the assistance that they may be looking for.
Alexa Aviles
0:46:00
What kind of what kind of, assistance?
0:46:04
It sounds like it's mostly referrals.
0:46:08
Is there actually any, like, substantive assistance that is offered to people?
Manuel Castro
0:46:14
Yes.
0:46:15
We provide significant immigration legal service assistance, and we do this through our contracted nonprofit providers.
0:46:22
So we outsource this work to
Alexa Aviles
0:46:24
So so you're referring?
0:46:25
It's primarily a referral.
0:46:27
It is you're not providing the legal you're not taking the case at Moyo and providing the No.
0:46:32
Direct legal services.
0:46:34
It is purely referral based to the providers that you contract with.
Manuel Castro
0:46:37
Yes.
0:46:38
We we do have a number of different legal services programs throughout the city.
0:46:42
Those that we manage, we do not do in house.
0:46:46
We, outsource and contract out to our legal service providers.
Alexa Aviles
0:46:52
Okay.
0:46:53
And so the both hotlines are sim are primarily referral is is what you're doing.
0:47:00
When people call with an issue, you're referring them to the agencies that you contract with.
Manuel Castro
0:47:05
Yes.
0:47:05
I mean, it's important to sort of help people navigate and clarify their questions, and then we refer them to the appropriate agency or, partner.