Medical-Legal Partnership in Action – Adapting MLP to Your Health Center & Community

WEBINAR: “Medical-Legal Partnership in Action –

Adapting MLP to Your Health Center & Community”

Date:  Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Time:  12 pm MST

Register HERE

Addressing patients' health-harming civil legal needs as part of primary care has emerged as a critical strategy for HRSA-funded health centers seeking to tackle the social determinants of health, such as housing, income, and public benefits. Integrating legal services into the care provided at health centers has the potential to address structural barriers and resolve some of the most intractable social problems that our nation’s vulnerable and underserved patients face. The medical-legal partnership (MLP) approach also shows promise in reducing health disparities and improving health equity for underserved particularly vulnerable populations. MLPs have documented experiences improving health outcomes, increasing patient engagement and lowering health care costs.

As of 2016, 113 health centers operated MLPs and 38 additional health centers were in the MLP planning stage, while a cohort of primary care associations are providing leadership and guidance for the growth of MLPs in their state or region. Some of the core characteristics of successful medical-legal partnerships are a lawyer who works on-site as a “lawyer in residence,” bi-directional training between health center and legal staff, strong communication about patients and data, and shared priorities and funding among partner organizations.

This 90-minute webinar aims to help participants understand: (1) the MLP approach and field, and how it aligns with existing health centers' services and priorities, especially enabling services; and (2) the opportunities for multi-sector engagement across all health centers and civil legal aid offices with a focus on population health strategies.

The target audience includes HRSA grantees, healthcare providers, public health officials, community-based organizations and legal aid advocates wanting to learn more about how this intervention could work in their community.

For more information, please contact Valerie Gallo at 415-437-8095 or vgallo@hrsa.gov