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Jeanean Merkel, 410-230-3540 or 571-233-4492
Margaret Cooch named Director of Policy and Advocacy for Lutheran Disability Network
February 9, 2010 – Washington, DC – Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN), a network of organizations that provide services and advocacy primarily with people with developmental disabilities, has named a public policy director effective February 4, 2010. Margaret (Meg) Cooch is the new Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network.
LSA-DN convener, Cindy Schroeder of Mosaic, said, “Meg’s understanding of city, state and national legislative advocacy processes as well as her experience in aging, poverty, health and disability issues makes her an excellent fit for our network.”
Cooch holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Most recently Cooch was Director of Programs and Operations for the National Alliance for Caregiving. She has also worked with the Alliance for Retired Americans, Planning for Elders and the SF Partnership for Community-Based Care and Support. Cooch serves on the board of the Community Living Campaign.
Cooch will work out of the Washington, DC office of Lutheran Services in America.
The LSA Disability Network includes 19 member organizations that provide support to more than 21,000 individuals in 33 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Network focuses its advocacy on preserving and strengthening Medicaid for people with developmental disabilities and supports the following principles: People with developmental disabilities depend on Medicaid policy that provides adequate and equitable services based on individual needs; People with developmental disabilities depend on Medicaid policy that mandates flexible supports and regulations for integrated community living; All people with developmental disabilities must have access to Medicaid supports as needed; Medicaid policy must be coordinated with other vital supports and services. The Network operates an e-advocacy site at www.lsadnadvocacy.org/.
Lutheran Services in America creates opportunities with people in thousands of communities throughout the United States and the Caribbean as an alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and their more than 300 health and human service organizations. Working neighbor to neighbor through services in health care, aging and disability supports, community development, housing, and child and family strengthening, these organizations together touch the lives of more than six million people or one in 50 Americans each year.
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