Missouri doctors, lawyers partner in hospitals for patient health

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 17, 2009

Navigating the bureaucracy of public assistance programs and fighting for legal entitlements ranging from disability benefits to special education requirements are tough tasks for many people. Low-income families are in even more of a bind, social service advocates say, because they often aren't aware of resources and can't afford legal representation. But a pilot program in Missouri brings lawyers into hospital settings when a medical diagnosis alone can't solve the problem. The program, the Children's Health Advocacy Project, is expanding now with a $573,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health.