In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. However, there is no right to counsel in civil matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone without legal representation. It’s estimated that 71% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the last year, including problems with health care, housing conditions, disability access, veterans’ benefits and domestic violence. Left unaddressed, these issues represent a significant hurdle to overcome for those in recovery.

In October of 2017, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland launched a medical legal partnership (MLP), providing free, on-site services to resolve civil legal issues that impact the overall health of addiction and psychiatric patients. St. Vincent Charity’s MLP was the first of its kind in Ohio to focus solely on the needs of those in treatment for behavioral health and addiction diseases. Today, the MLP has been expanded to all patients who qualify. The program is generously supported through a two-year $260,000 grant from the Jones Day Foundation, $100,000 from The George Gund Foundation and $80,000 from the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation.

Recently, Greg McNeil, founder of Cover2 Resources, interviewed Legal Aid attorneys Michael Russell and Jennifer Kinsley, as well as Dr. Albana Dreshaj, medical director of St. Vincent Charity Psychiatric Emergency Department, for episode 217 of his noted podcast.  

Ep. 217 – Removing Legal Barriers to Recovery at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center