Enhancing Texans’ Wellbeing through Medical-Legal Partnerships
Our Medical-Legal Partnership team boosts patients' health and wellbeing by providing essential legal services at healthcare clinics.
A Holistic Approach to Better Health
Everyday factors have consequences to our health and wellbeing – both good and bad. Where we are born, where we live and work, and the community and culture that surrounds us all play a role in our health. Sometimes, these factors – known as social determinants of health – have negative consequences. Poverty, poor nutrition, lack of insurance, unstable housing, discrimination, and limited education opportunities are just a few examples.
The law and the legal system also influence these factors. Through Medical-Legal Partnerships, attorneys work closely with healthcare clinics to tackle social problems that contribute to health issues. Lawyers work on site at the clinics to train healthcare providers to recognize situations that a lawyer can help resolve and provide patients with legal services to address these concerns. For example, an attorney can help a patient facing eviction get stable housing. Multiple studies link eviction to several adverse outcomes, including higher rates of depression, more emergency room visits, and increased viral load amongst people living with HIV.
Collaboration with Health Clinics
TLSC’s attorneys collaborate with clinics in many ways:
DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES
Representing and providing advice to patients facing civil legal issues
Referring clients to other TLSC programs and trusted resources
TRAINING CLINIC STAFF
Educating clinic staff about legal issues that impact patients' health
Answering questions from providers and patient advocates
ADVOCACY
Tracking legislation impacting our partners’ patients
Strategizing with partners to advocate for patients’ rights
Our Partner Clinics
People's Community Clinic
AUSTIN, TX https://www.austinpcc.org/
People’s Community Clinic is a non-profit network of clinics focusing on the health of the medically underserved and uninsured. TLSC attorney, Rustin, helps patients with issues like Social Security benefits, housing stability, financial stability, family law, employment and education discrimination, and more.
Texas Health Action's Kind Clinics
AUSTIN, TX | DALLAS, TX | SAN ANTONIO, TX https://kindclinic.org/
Texas Health Action’s Kind Clinics are nonprofit clinics focused on sexual health services and serve the LGBTQIA+ community. TLSC attorney, Shawnee, assists patients with legal name changes, gender marker corrections, housing rights, and employment discrimination claims.
CommUnityCare Southeast Health and Wellness Center
AUSTIN, TX
CommUnityCare Southeast Health and Wellness Center (CUC SEHWC) is a large community health center dedicated to providing high quality health services regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. We started our newest MLP here last fall. TLSC’s MLP attorney, Cecile, works on a wide range of legal issues with patients – from questions about immigration, to accessing public benefits (such as Social Security and Medicaid), to family law matters.
Cedar Park Veterans Administration Clinic
In collaboration with our Veterans Legal Assistance Program, TLSC attorney, Allen, provides legal services to Veterans at the Cedar Park VA Clinic and at their partner entities, including Heroes Night Out and the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court. His services include estate planning and discharge upgrades. He also educates clinic staff and patients about Veterans' legal issues through events and presentations.
Central Texas VA Health Care System, Austin Outpatient Clinic
We are excited to announce our new partnership with the Austin VA Clinic, launching this fall! With over 140,000 Veterans in Central Texas, this collaboration brings us one step closer to our mission of reaching Texas Veterans where they are. Together, we will provide essential legal services that improve health and wellbeing for hundreds of Veterans. Stay tuned for more updates.
Getting Help
Our services are free for patients of our partner clinics. If you are a patient with one of our partners, talk to your provider about receiving free legal assistance.
Learn more about Texas Legal Services Center and how we are working toward a future that ensures equal justice for all at tlsc.org/whatwedo.
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