the bay Pines va MediCal legal PartnershiP
Military & Veterans Affairs Committee Chairs : Alexandra Srsic – Bay Area Legal Services , Inc . & David Veenstra - Hunter Law , P . A .
innovative collaboration brings additional services to local veterans .
Bay Area Legal Services ( BALS ) has seen how the struggle with legal problems can significantly affect a client ’ s physical and mental health . When people join the armed forces , one promise that they rely on is that if their service results in an honorable discharge or in a disability , they will receive a lifetime of health care and assistance .
Even with this benefit , veterans can be particularly vulnerable to the stress and instability caused by unresolved legal issues . And a disability can further affect a veteran ’ s capacity to find and maintain gainful employment . As a result , disabled veterans are among the most impoverished groups in our communities .
Low-income or homeless veterans face legal challenges unique to their status . Many fail to obtain permanent housing because they cannot meet lending requirements or have poor or no credit . This is in addition to other challenges they share with many low-income individuals seeking housing in a poor economy . Those challenges , which often involve legal issues pertaining to housing , family law , and consumer issues , cannot be properly addressed without the assistance of an attorney — and they are an obstacle to a veteran ’ s health , housing status , stability , and productivity .
Legal assistance , through innovative projects such as a medical-legal partnership , can alleviate many of the factors that negatively affect a veteran ’ s health and his or her ability to become self-sufficient . Medical Legal Partnerships ( MLPs ) are designed to address the unmet legal needs of veterans by integrating civil legal aid services into existing health care services for veterans . In recognition of this important need , and in furtherance of BALS ’ s Veterans Initiative , BALS worked diligently for months with the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and the Stetson University College of Law Veterans Law Institute to develop a medical legal partnership to serve veterans receiving their health care services at the Bay Pines Regional Health Center . Bay Pines is one of the country ’ s largest regional VA Medical Centers and serves veterans from Pinellas , Manatee , and Sarasota Counties .
In February 2017 , after months of planning , the Bay Pines VA Medical Legal Partnership was established to provide veterans access to legal services at the Bay Pines Regional Health Center . BALS was pleased to partner with Bay Pines and Stetson College of Law to bring these critical legal services to the veterans . This innovative , collaborative approach has enabled BALS to address the unmet legal needs of our veterans by providing services directly at the facility where veterans receive their health care .
Our innovative legal services delivery system has established an important partnership between health and legal providers to better assist veterans in need and encourage a more holistic approach to their overall well-being , thereby improving their quality of life . Since February 2017 , the Bay Pines MLP has served approximately 600 veterans using the expertise of BALS staff attorney Julie Embler and Equal Justice Works Fellow Cherilyn Hansen . The MLP also uses the assistance of Stetson law students and volunteer attorneys .
In 2018 , BALS is looking forward to expanding the Bay Pines MLP to serve veterans in Sarasota and Manatee counties , with the help of pro bono attorneys , in addition to our staff attorneys . This project and other veteran-focused initiatives through the Major General Ernest A . and Marilyn Bedke Veterans Law Center will enable BALS to better serve these deserving members of our community — our veterans .
Author : Lisa L . Brody – Bay Area Legal Services
3 4 M A R - A P R 2 0 1 8 | H C B A L A W Y E R
the bay Pines va MediCal legal PartnershiP
Military & Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairs: Alexandra Srsic – Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. & David Veenstra - Hunter Law, P.A.
innovative
collaboration brings
additional services
B
ay Area Legal Services
(BALS) has seen how
the struggle with legal
problems can significantly
affect a client’s physical and mental
health. When people join the
armed forces, one promise that they
rely on is that if their service results
in an honorable discharge or in a
disability, they will receive a lifetime
of health care and assistance.
Even with this benefit, veterans
can be particularly vulnerable to
the stress and instability caused
by unresolved legal issues. And
a disability can further affect a
veteran’s capacity to find and
maintain gainful employment.
As a result, disabled veterans are
among the most impoverished
groups in our communities.
Low-income or homeless veterans
face legal challenges unique to
their status. Many fail to obtain
permanent housing because they
cannot meet lending requirements
or have poor or no credit. This is
in addition to other challenges
they share with many low-income
individuals seeking housing in a
poor economy. Those challenges,
which often involve legal issues
pertaining to housing, family law,
and consumer issues, cannot be
properly addressed without the
assistance of an attorney — and
they are an obstacle to a veteran’s
health, housing status, stability,
and productivity.
34
to local veterans.
Legal assistance, through
innovative projects such as a
medical-legal partnership, can
alleviate many of the factors that
negatively affect a veteran’s health
and his or her ability to become
self-sufficient. Medical Legal
Partnerships (MLPs) are designed
to address the unmet legal needs
of veterans by integrating civil legal
aid services into existing health care
services for veterans. In recognition
of this important need, and in
furtherance of BALS’s Veterans
Initiative, BALS worked diligently
for months with the Bay Pines VA
Healthcare System and the Stetson
University College of Law Veterans
Law Institute to develop a medical
legal partnership to serve veterans
receiving their health care services
at the Bay Pines Regional Health
Center. Bay Pines is one of the
country’s largest regional VA
Medical Centers and serves veterans
from Pinellas, Manatee, and
Sarasota Counties.
In February 2017, after months
of planning, the Bay Pines VA
Medical Legal Partnership was
established to provide veterans access
to legal services at the Bay Pines
Regional Health Center. BALS was
pleased to partner with Bay Pines
and Stetson College of Law to
bring these critical legal services to
the veterans. This innovative,
collaborative approach has enabled
BALS to address the unmet legal
needs of our veterans by providing
services directly at the facility where
veterans receive their health care.
Our innovative legal services
delivery system has established
an important partnership between
health and legal providers to
better assist veterans in need and
encourage a more holistic approach
to their overall well-being, thereby
improving their quality of life. Since
February 2017, the Bay Pines MLP
has served approximately 600
veterans using the expertise of
BALS staff attorney Julie Embler
and Equal Justice Works Fellow
Cherilyn Hansen. The MLP also
uses the assistance of Stetson law
students and volunteer attorneys.
In 2018, BALS is looking forward
to expanding the Bay Pines MLP
to serve veterans in Sarasota and
Manatee counties, with the help of
pro bono attorneys, in addition to
our staff attorneys. This project
and other veteran-focused initiatives
through the Major General Ernest
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