Programs such as governmental, departmental or nonprofit ombudsman offices that provide assistance for people who want to register complaints about or have other issues which relate to the activities, actions or lack of action by public officials or civil service employees in state government offices or the agencies they regulate and/or fund. Also included are programs that handle complaints about the availability and quality of state government services. The program provides an objective, neutral and independent review of complaints; offers reasonable remedies when complaints are substantiated; and uses information from the complaints and the investigations they trigger to identify and resolve problems within the agency or department and improve services.

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly, denied health or mental health care services or benefits or have experienced delays in service provision based on their age, gender, family composition, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

Programs that provide information, education, advocacy and/or other forms of legal assistance which relate to the rights of people who are patients in a health or mental health care facility, who are residents of convalescent or other long or short-term care facilities including adult residential care homes, or who are incapacitated and are being cared for at home by family members. Services may also be available to significant others of these individuals.

Programs that provide information about specific legal problems and procedures that interested individuals can access on a website or in person, or by telephone, email, chat, text or other communication channel. Information may be in a self-serve, browsable format (for example a web resource directory or library of audio recordings) or provided by live agents with expertise in the field. Also included are legal aid services, bar associations and other programs that provide basic information about family law, landlord/tenant law, immigration law, consumer law, elder law, patient rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, the criminal justice system, the civil court system and other legal topics via workshops, classes, speaking engagements, printed materials, video tutorials, websites and other similar educational avenues.

Individuals who are generally between the ages of 18 and 25 depending on the ages that specific programs use for qualification.

A severe, chronic disability that is attributable to a cognitive, neurological or physical impairment or a combination of cognitive, neurological and physical impairments; that is manifested during the developmental period (prior to age 22); that is likely to continue indefinitely; and that results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity including self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

An alteration in thinking, mood or behavior or some combination of those that either creates distress or interferes with people's relationships or their ability function.

Disorders related to excessive alcohol use, other drug use or use of other substances including caffeine and tobacco that is characterized by an inability to control or limit the amount taken or the frequency; intense cravings; continuing use despite problems with work, school or family/social obligations or interpersonal problems; risky use, e.g., driving a car, operating machinery while under the influence or continuing to smoke following an emphysema diagnosis; or evidence of pharmacological indicators (tolerance and withdrawal symptoms), the adjustment the body makes as it attempts to adapt to the continued and frequent use of a substance.

People who are currently residing in an agency-supervised private family home which may be structured to meet the needs of children and youth who have been neglected, abused or abandoned and are no longer able to live with their birth families; older adults; people with disabilities or other populations. Note that foster care for older adults and/or people with disabilities may not be available in all states.

People who are currently residing in an agency-owned or operated facility that can generally accommodate six to 13 residents who can benefit from a professionally supervised, treatment oriented, structured group environment.

People who live in an assisted living facility, continuing care retirement community, life care community, residential care home, semi-independent living residence or other facility for older adults or people with disabilities who are unable to function in an independent living environment because they need assistance with toileting, bathing, dressing, medication management and administration, meals and housekeeping and other activities of daily living.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of services provided by the city, county, state or federal government.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of human rights.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of human/social services.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of mental health/mental illness.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of public assistance.