Missouri doctors, lawyers partner in hospitals for patient health

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.