Medical-Legal Partnership

The primary goal of the MLP Project is to increase the capacity of healthcare institutions to address health-harming legal issues by increasing the availability of volunteer attorneys. Medical providers and lawyers are the ideal team to help low-income families who face legal problems related to their basic needs such as housing and income. Medical-legal partners address (MLP) the social determinants of health that create hardships for vulnerable populations through the integration of free legal services in the healthcare setting. MLPs draw on the expertise of community partners to create a holistic approach to patients care.  Through partnership with Community Legal Aid Society and the Delaware Division of Public Health, Inc., participants conduct “legal needs” surveys of patients at Healthy Women Healthy Baby sites in Delaware. Delaware Law School students visit the sites–likely in teams of two–and assist patients in completing surveys designed to measure the scope and character of unmet legal needs, needs that may have direct relationship to maternal and infant health.