Va MLP Network
The Va MLP network was launched in September, 2008 at a statewide meeting of over 25 medical and legal partners from throughout Virginia who came to Charlottesville interested in learning more about this model and how to develop an effective network in Virginia.
Ellen Lawton, J.D., Executive Director from the National Center for Medical Legal Partnership in Boston facilitated the meeting. As the inaugural attorney for the first medical legal partnership at its inception at Boston Medical Center by Dr. Barry Zuckerman, Ms. Lawton is an expert on the model and its implementation in various settings.
Topics of discussion included what a statewide network would look like, how programs can support each other, how to develop legislative advocacy into the programs, how to develop a referral network, and how to engage medical staff to effectively utilize medical-legal partnership programs for their patients. At the conclusion of the meeting, plans were underway to pursue further discussion via two workgroups, namely the medical workgroup and the legal workgroup. Both groups had their first meeting in January, 2009, and the network is now moving forward in its development.
VA MLP Network Sites
The medical-legal partnership model is spreading rapidly throughout Virginia and our network is now beginning to work together to provide economically disadvantaged families across Virginia with access to legal services to address such issues as housing, benefits, and special education. Our network includes the following programs:
UVA Child Health Advocacy Program (CHAP), Charlottesville, VA (2004)
Legal Aid Justice Center
UVA Department of Pediatrics
UVA School of Law
Here is a short slide show about the UVA Chap program and its development as the first medical-legal partnership program in Virginia.
UVA CHAP Slideshow
VCU Child Health Advocacy Program (CHAP), Richmond, VA (2006)
Legal Aid Justice Center
VCU Children's Hospital
CHIP of Greater Richmond
University of Richmond School of Law
Health Education Advocacy Law (HEAL), Suffolk and Lynchburg, VA (2007)
Western Tidewater Free Clinic
Sentara Obici Hospital Social Work Department
Main Street Physicians
Virginia Legal Aid Society
INOVA Fairfax, Fairfax, VA (2008)
Soutwest Virginia Medical-Legal Partnership, Castlewood, Marion and Christiansburg (under development)
Southwest Virginia Care Connection for Children
Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society
Georgetown University, Washington, DC (under development)
CHKD Child Health Advocacy Program, Norfolk, VA (under development)
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
Legal Aid Society of Virginia
Hampton Roads Care Connection for Children
Petersburg, VA
Legal Aid Justice Center
Hopewell-Prince George Community Health Center
National Center for Medical Legal Partnership
Here are more resources and information from the National Center for Medical Legal Partnership. http://www.mlpforchildren.org/