2018 NLADA Annual Conference--Resilient Justice

This workshop will introduce an innovative approach to providing county-wide legal services by showcasing the development of Medical Legal Community Partnership-Los Angeles (MLCP-LA). MLCP-LA is focused on helping the most vulnerable Los Angeles County residents overcome barriers keeping them from stability. It is a partnership among the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Whole Person Care Program (WPC), Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County as the lead agency, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and Mental Health Advocacy Services. DHS’ Whole Person Care program leverages community health workers with relevant lived experience to support LA County’s Medi-Cal eligible beneficiaries facing homelessness, serious mental illness, chronic hospitalizations, substance use disorders, and other critical needs. MLCP-LA helps individual Whole Person Care participants, empowers DHS’ community health workers, and works to identify and overcome systemic barriers. MLCP-LA leveraged funding through Medicaid waiver dollars, developed technological referral and intake innovations, created a hybrid service delivery system, and formed a strong collaboration of premiere nonprofit law firms focusing on major barriers impacting poverty. Through a panel presentation and interactive discussion, this workshop will provide an overview into the development, service delivery, data collection, and partnerships established to create MLCP-LA. Attendees will also be provided with a framework and space for discussion to help identify and materialize similar local opportunities.