A collaborative effort among the University of Memphis School of Law, Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has produced a medical-legal partnership.
Called Memphis CHiLD (Children’s Health Law Directive), the partnership will focus on identifying the legal and social issues that impact patient health and providing means to address these issues though direct legal services, education and advocacy for children and their families.
In addition to a variety of training programs and educational, bi-directional partnerships, Memphis CHiLD also consists of an on-site Legal Clinic located at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where Memphis Law students enrolled in the clinic have devoted space to work on cases and referrals, meet with patients/clients, and conduct training sessions. Medical professionals and Le Bonheur residents will have access to the clinic as well, and will have direct involvement in the Memphis CHiLD Legal Clinic training sessions and learning opportunities available through the program.
The initial focus of the partnership will be helping children with severe asthma who are enrolled in Le Bonheur’s CHAMP Program (Changing High-Risk Asthma in Memphis through Partnership). CHAMP aims to reduce emergency department visits and reduce asthma episodes. Memphis CHiLD will help families with legal, social and health barriers like mold in rental housing.