Family Advocacy Program

Boston Medical Center - 060015

Abstract Number: 060015

April 2006

Children living in poverty often experience relatively poor health and developmental outcomes. Since 1993, pediatricians at Boston Medical Center have relied on lawyers to help them take care of their young patients. Over and over again, the Family Advocacy Program at BMC has found that integrating lawyers into the clinical setting makes medical treatment for children from low-income families more effective. Since June of 2001, the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo has supported the work of FAP through a generous pro bono arrangement. With Mintz, Levin accepting referrals of some of the more complex and time-consuming problems, FAP's caseload capacity has been greatly increased. In addition, FAP has trained over 2,000 health care providers, social workers, mental health clinicians and health center staff in a variety of advocacy topics and strategies. Overall, FAP services have helped improve the health and well-being of over 3,000 families since its inception. FAP also provides 30-50 case consultations a month for health care providers. Families can access FAP services through weekly walk-in legal clinics at BMC and four of its affiliated neighborhood health centers.

To learn more about this project, access the article below and information about replicating the project in other locations.

Contact Information:

Ellen Lawton
Director, National Center for Medical-Legal Collaboration
Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Place
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 414-3658
Ellen.lawton@bmc.org

Additional Information:

• Start a Family Advocacy Program
• Ellen M. Lawton, "The Family Advocacy Program: A Medical-Legal Collaborative to Promote Child Health & Development." Management Information Exchange 17. No. 2 (Summer 2003) 12-16.

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