The mission of Central California Legal Services, Inc. (CCLS) is "To Advance Justice and Empower People." The organization's clients are the working poor, immigrants, families with young children, the disabled, veterans, senior citizens and other low-income individuals, communities and organizations.

Established in 1966, CCLS is the primary provider of free civil legal services to eligible residents in the central San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Foothills. CCLS offers representation in the following priority service areas: domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, tenants' rights, healthcare access, education/youth law, consumer law, rights and access to public benefits, community economic development, employee and taxpayer assistance.

The program serves eligible individuals in the counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Merced, Mariposa and Tuolumne, as well as senior citizens in Madera County. Our main office is located in downtown Fresno. We also deliver services through fully staffed offices located in the cities of Merced and Visalia. Services are provided at no charge.

With funding from various sources, CCLS employs 56 professionals and support staff who assist eligible individuals with their legal problems. We serve a diverse client population in a manner that is both culturally and linguistically appropriate. Volunteers also add greatly to our efforts.

A major strength of CCLS lies in gaining maximum impact by combining our efforts with those at other organizations and diverse communities to deliver quality services. Staff members work collaboratively with many of the public entities, community and faith-based organizations who serve the eligible client populations.

We contribute to the economic strength of our community by assisting low-wage workers in securing their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is proven to be the most effective strategy, more than any other federal program, to lift families out of poverty. We prevent homelessness when we defend tenants in court and protect their rights or challenge unconstitutional actions that target the homeless. CCLS services benefit the entire community. We build a healthier community when we assist children and their family's access health care services.

We keep the community informed of our work through outreach events, community presentations, the annual Homeless Veteran's Stand Down, pro bono clinics, quarterly newsletters, our website and the media. We continue to expand and strengthen existing collaborative efforts and work to forge new ones.

Our successes are possible only through the combined efforts of our clients, staff, volunteers, board members, funders and supporters.

Major funders include (partial list):

• Legal Services Corporation
• The State Bar of California - IOLTA Program & Equal Access Fund
• The California Endowment
• Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging
• Internal Revenue Services - Department of the Treasury
• Department of Justice - Office on Violence Against Women
• Merced County Area Agency on Aging
• The City of Fresno
• Superior Court of California, County of Tulare
• Self Help for the Elderly
• Kings County Commission on Aging Council
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Central Valley Affiliate