Medical – Legal
Partnerships
Health Care Providers and
Legal Service Providers
Working Together
Introduction
 Community

Free civil legal services to low-income and
elderly individuals
 Assistance



Legal Aid Services (CLAS)
with:
Bankruptcy
Foreclosures
Evictions



Income Maintenance
Family Assistance
Medicaid
Introduction
 Getting




Based on income
Must be a citizen or a eligible alien
www.communitylegalaid.org
1-800-998-9454
 Health


Assistance
Advocacy Program
Akron Children’s Hospital & CLAS
Since August 2009
Introduction
 Medical
– Legal Partnership (MLP)
 Developments


Nationwide
Statewide
 Benefits


of an MLP
Health
Legal
 Possible
Outcomes
 Potential Developments
 Getting Involved
Medical – Legal Partnerships
 Originated
 Ohio’s
in Boston, MA in 1993
first MLP – Cleveland in 2002
 Toledo,
Columbus, Chillicothe, Cincinnati,
and Akron followed
Medical – Legal Partnerships
 Health
Care Providers (HCP) and Legal
Service Providers (LSP) identify and remedy
legal issues that are barriers to health
 HCPs
identify the legal impediments after
training from LSPs
 LSPs
work to remedy those legal issues
leading to improved health
Developments – National
 National
MLP Center developed
 Currently
there are 75+ partnerships
nationwide
 National
legislation concerning MLP funding
Developments – Statewide
6


Legal Aid Societies in Ohio
At least one partnership at each
At least one site for each partnership
 Most
sites are in some stage of growth or
expansion
Cleveland Community
Advocacy Program
Toledo MedicalLegal Partnership
for Children
Health
Advocacy
Program
Child and Youth
Law Program
Family Healthcare
Advocacy Project
Cincinnati Child
Health-Law
Partnership
Benefits of an MLP – Health
 Improved

asthma outcomes
Asthma caused/exacerbated by substandard
housing improves w/attorney involvement
 Decreased

stress
Assistance with issues helps decrease feelings
of being overwhelmed
Benefits of an MLP – Legal
 Proactive


Generally need less assistance
Assistance can have greater impact
 Avoid


legal interventions
many emergency situations
Learn of rent problems before eviction notice
sent
Get involved with children’s education before
serious disciplinary actions or academic
deficiencies jeopardize educatino
Possible Outcomes
 General


Improved health
Improved legal situations
 Specific





IEP in place
Housing conditions improved
Greater financial security
Medical care for parents (better for kids, too)
More family stability
Potential Developments
 State

Taskforce Meetings Quarterly
Next Meeting…
 Probably
 Contact


first or second Tuesday in July
Local Partnership
Trainings could be provided
May be looking for additional medical partners
or referral sources
 Contact
National MLP for additional ideas
Getting Involved
 Akron


– Health Advocacy Program
Akron Children’s Hospital
Community Legal Aid Services
 Leah
Jensen
 Chillicothe
Project


– Family Healthcare Advocacy
Family Healthcare, Inc.
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services
 Rebecca
Gonzales
Getting Involved

Cincinnati – Child Health-Law Partnership


Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati


Elaine Fink
Cleveland – Community Advocacy Program

MetroHealth
Broadway Health Center
 Buckeye Health Center
 Main Campus Health Center
 Thomas F. McCafferty Health Center


Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Mallory Curran
Getting Involved

Columbus– Child and Youth Law Program


Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Legal Aid Society of Columbus


Vanessa Coterel
Toledo – Medical-Legal Partnership for Children





St Vincent’s Mercy Children’s Hospital
St. Vincent’s Mercy Family Care Center
University of Toledo, College of Medicine
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
Legal Aid of Western Ohio

Dianne Mantel
Contact
Leah R. Jensen, Esq.
Equal Justice Works Fellow
50 S Main St, Ste 800
Akron, OH 44308
1-800-309-5454 ext. 2557
ljensen@communitylegalaid.org