Mid-Delta Health Systems and Legal Aid of Arkansas announced that, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, patients at the Mid-Delta community health center now have access to a new healthcare specialist – the public service attorney. The Mid-Delta Medical-Legal Partnership, which integrates legal service delivery into the medical setting, is the first program of its kind in Arkansas.
The partnership recognizes that for vulnerable individuals and families, illness can create legal problems, and legal problems can create illness. By bringing lawyers into the healthcare team and addressing health and legal needs in tandem, medical-legal partnerships can stop this cycle, and patients have a better chance of getting and staying healthy.
“Individuals living in poverty often face social and economic problems that have an adverse impact on their health but fall outside the expertise of a healthcare provider,” said Lee Richardson, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Arkansas. “This partnership leverages the skills of the healthcare providers with those of attorneys who can help solve civil legal issues that impact health. The generous support of the Wal-Mart Foundation has been key in making this partnership a reality.”
Mid-Delta can now refer their patients to a legal aid attorney for assistance on a range of issues that affect patient health including housing, income supports, health insurance, and education. Staff from legal aid is on-site at the health center one day a week and take referrals from the clinic at the legal aid office the rest of the week.
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 1:00-4:00pm Legal Aid Services will be at Mid-Delta. Thereafter, Legal Aid will be at the clinic the first Tuesday, third Tuesday, and fourth Monday of every month from 1:00-4:00pm and more often as necessary. Please call the clinic at (870) 747-3381 or 1-800-244-3602 for more information.
The first medical-legal partnership was started at Boston Medical Center in 1993. Over the last seventeen years, similar programs have developed at 200 hospitals and health centers in 36 states.
“Programs like the one here in Clarendon are transforming the way health care is delivered to vulnerable people,” said Ellen Lawton, Executive Director of the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership in Boston, Massachusetts. “The partnership between Mid-Delta and Legal Aid will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of low-income Arkansans.”
Mid-Delta Health Systems, Inc. is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving clients in Monroe, Phillips, Lee, Arkansas and Prairie County with a mission to improve the quality of life of individuals by providing access to high quality, comprehensive primary health care and promote health and safety through education.
Legal Aid of Arkansas is a non-profit corporation with a vision to improve the lives of low-income Arkansans by championing equal access to justice regardless of economic or social circumstances. Legal Aid provides free legal help with civil legal matters to those who qualify. To apply for services potential clients should call 1-800-952-9243.
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