January 18, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jan Morrison
(434) 924-5679

HEALTH SYSTEM’S FAMILY PROGRAM PROVIDES
FOR PHYSICAL AND LEGAL NEEDS

Although the primary mission of the University of Virginia Children ’s Hospital is to care for the physical needs of its young patients, it has recently expanded its activities to provide for some legal needs as well.  Begun in September 2004, the Family Advocacy Program in the General Pediatric Clinic uses volunteers to help families navigate legal issues such as benefits, employment disputes and housing problems. 

“We want to help our patients physically, but all of these legal factors impact health as well,” said Diane Pappas, Division Head of General Pediatrics at U.Va. Health System and Director of Child Advocacy. “These are survival issues.”

Pappas collaborates with legal experts from the Legal Aid Justice Center , students from the U.Va School of Law, and social worker Greg Nelsen of the Children’s Hospital to form the Family Advocacy Program .  Physicians in the Children’s Hospital recognize a family’s need for legal assistance and give them an in-clinic opportunity to speak with Nelsen or law student volunteers regarding the family’s legal situation.

Nelsen says the program is “going great” with at least 30 referrals to the program since its inception.  Recently, the program has seen families with problems regarding health insurance, handicap parking, custody battles, paternity tests, and landlord disputes.  The program has even helped one family towards getting mold removed from their rental property, which can cause illness.  The Family Advocacy Program is also assisting a family from abroad to extend their Visas in order to remain in the country and receive medical treatment for their young child.

“There’s a direct correlation between meeting legal needs and maintaining one’s health,” Nelsen said.  “Often these issues are on the family’s back burner as they focus on more immediate needs like paying bills and putting food on the table.  The Family Advocacy Program helps families with the legal advice they often cannot afford to get.”

The Family Advocacy Program hopes to eventually expand its program throughout the hospital, but is starting with baby steps in the Children’s Hospital.  They want to provide a way for families to address problems in their lives that often impact their health regardless of legal residency or ability to pay.

“The majority of the people we see have limited finances and are more easily taken advantage of due to their inability to afford legal representation,” Nelsen said. “We want to help represent them and make them aware of their options.”

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