Medical-Legal Partnership

In collaboration with the Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA), the Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) at Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) offers legal support for YCSC children and families who are facing legal barriers that impede their health and well-being. Ours was the first children’s behavioral health MLP in the country, established in November 2020 with CCA Attorney Kathryn Meyer, Esq. CCA has since established additional MLPs at Yale New Haven Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

A medical-legal partnership involves embedding lawyers within healthcare settings to assist in addressing health-harming legal needs that contribute to poor outcomes for families. CCA has a long history of providing legal advocacy for children in Connecticut, with a variety of MLP locations where attorneys are co-located to assist in eliminating legal barriers for children and families. An MLP legal practice includes provider consultation, direct advocacy with and on behalf of families, community and provider training, and systemic advocacy.

The MLP at YCSC provides direct legal support to improve access and outcomes for children in the New Haven area, related to behavioral health issues, educational support, and more. Over 250 referrals are received each year, with roughly 70% related to educational issues. Most referrals also lead to provider or family legal consultations. Additionally, unique education and training opportunities related to behavioral health are provided to pediatric and behavioral health clinicians throughout Connecticut.

Consultation can be related to nearly any legal issue. This can include housing issues, disability, educational rights, immigration, public benefits, and Medicaid advocacy. Training is also available for YCSC staff and trainees on any of these topics. Individual consultation can involve answering general questions about legal issues and processes and—with family permission—meeting with clinicians and families for a more in-depth discussion that may lead to legal representation through CCA.

To participate in our MLP, YCSC clinicians complete and submit an on-line referral form, which can be located via the department intranet. If there is a need to discuss a specific family in detail, a release of information is also required. A YCSC provider can reach out for advice regarding any child or family they serve, though CCA is only able to consult directly with or represent low-income families who are at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.

CCA is a statewide agency in Connecticut with offices in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport. CCA lawyers practice child welfare, juvenile justice, immigration, housing, benefits, education, homelessness, advocacy, and other areas of law that impact children and families throughout the state. CCA is also very active in statewide systemic advocacy, including through legislation, litigation, and policy advocacy on behalf of the families they serve.