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MLP’s Impact

In 2023, the Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) provided legal services in nearly 500 cases, serving more than 1000 patients and community members, valued at more than $1.4 million in donated legal services. Our legal partners represented clients in many types of cases, fighting evictions, drafting wills and powers of attorney, appealing public benefits denials, and more. Their efforts had tangible effects on the health and well-being of our community.

Recent MLP Success Stories

Housing

A medically complex newborn on trach ventilation at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond was nearing discharge to an unsafe apartment. The ceiling needed repairs, and the family was dealing with mold and a rat infestation. The child’s mother reported the issues to maintenance numerous times, but the landlord didn’t respond. An MLP lawyer advocated for the family and got the landlord to make all the needed repairs, creating a more sanitary place for the newborn child to live and thrive.
 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The pediatric pulmonary team referred a family of four when their SNAP benefits were cut off without notice.  The patient’s mom had tried contacting the Department of Social Services (DSS), but her calls were never returned. An MLP attorney successfully negotiated with DSS, and the benefits were reinstated. The family began receiving $875 per month, plus $117 from the pandemic-related emergency allotment. These benefits eased food insecurity for the mom and her three kids.
 
Medicaid

A Ryan White patient was approved for Medicaid under the condition her citizenship status was verified. Even though she properly submitted her green card, her Medicaid case was automatically closed after two months. As a result, she wasn’t able to refill her prescriptions. An MLP attorney contacted the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the patient's behalf, and, after some back-and-forth, they reopened her Medicaid case. The patient’s full coverage was restored, and she was able to pick up her medication.
 
Education

When a child’s Individualized Education Plan was not providing the help he needed, the family reached out to MLP. They worked with an attorney who advocated for the student during a meeting with his school. At the end of the meeting, administrators approved all of the family’s requested changes, including one-on-one help and a later start to the school day. These accommodations will allow the student to better focus on his education.

Family Law

A former preschool teacher cared for a mother and her child since the child’s birth in 2012. Unfortunately, the mother eventually abandoned her son. His father had never been in contact. For years, the teacher tried to adopt the child but found it to be too expensive. The child’s nurse referred the family to the MLP, and an attorney was successful in getting a judge to grant the adoption in 2023. The judge also approved the child’s name change, knowing he wanted his initials to match his new mom’s.


According to his mom, the patient “is finally seen as my son at the hospital, at the social security office, in the eyes of the state, and everywhere else... And that does matter. Programs like this need to be a part of all medical facilities. It’s nice to know that there are people out there who will volunteer to help with legal issues — to help give a child a home, to put them where they need to be so they can enjoy their life and not grow up with major health problems or other challenges that could be avoided.”

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