News Story (NATIONAL)
Amanda Michelle Gomez
ThinkProgress
April 11, 2018
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: Medical-Legal Partnerships, Opioid Crisis
Organizations mentioned/involved: Indiana Legal Services (ILS), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
DETAILS
She didn’t heed the medical advice of the family court judge. Instead, she sought help from her provider at Eskenazi Health Midtown in Indianapolis, who then referred her to the health center’s on-site lawyer. An attorney from Indiana Legal Services (ILS) — who also works several hours a week at the treatment center — went with Jamie to her next court hearing. And together, they presented the judge a letter written by her doctor under the guidance of ILS, explaining MAT is the golden standard for addiction treatment. The judge ultimately changed her mind, and Jamie secured full, permanent custody of her now two-year old daughter.
This isn’t always the case. Sometimes people don’t have access to legal aid, as it isn’t customary to have lawyers embedded in medical settings, much less addiction treatment centers.