2017 NLADA Annual Conference

Like many states, Florida has a number of medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) of varying ages, sizes, and focus areas. Historically, there was limited communication among Florida MLPs and little conversation among Florida legal services leaders on how best to develop and sustain MLPs over time. In 2017, with funding from the Florida Bar Foundation, legal services programs in Florida have embarked upon a pioneering, coordinated effort to develop a statewide MLP strategy. Efforts include engaging health care leaders at the state and local levels, creating a system for learning and sharing about MLP among legal services programs, and collecting uniform data on a statewide level to support MLP development and health policy initiatives. All activities are taking place with an eye toward maximizing health care investment in legal services and gaining a permanent legal services seat at the table wherever discussions about community health in Florida take place. Panelists will include two executive directors from the legal services programs leading the initiative, a representative of the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, and a health care leader who has joined forces with legal services to promote MLP in Florida.