Lebanon VA Medical Center announced three new partnerships to assist Veterans with civil and domestic relations issues.
These new partnerships are called Medical Legal Partnerships. MLPs are designed to address health harming civil-legal needs, which are social, financial, or environment problems that have deleterious impacts on health and that can be addressed through civil legal aid.
The clinic will address multiple legal issues including: criminal charges, financial health, domestic issues, expungement, and estate planning. In addition to the attorneys vetted by and approved by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, volunteer Domestic Relations Officers will be present at the clinic from the Dauphin Domestic Relations and the Lancaster Domestic Relations. The attorneys and domestic relations officers will provide free consultation to Veterans. Ongoing representation by volunteer attorneys is not a guarantee; however, steps will be taken to connect veterans with additional resources in the community as needed. The clinic will be offered quarterly. The next one is scheduled for Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Currently there are 292 active MLPs in private hospitals, VA medical centers and other health centers in 36 states. Unlike the vast majority of MLP’s, Lebanon’s program also includes Domestic Relations staff equipped to address child support issues.
"Establishing the Lebanon VA Medical Center Legal and Domestic Relations Clinic provides Veterans with access assistance to resolve their legal and domestic relations issues as part of their overall care and recovery plan, said Dr. Piro Rjepaj, Lebanon VA Medical Center’s associate chief of staff for behavioral health. Unresolved legal issues are known to have deleterious effects on both physical and mental health. Assisting Veterans resolve a legal concern stands to improve their overall health."
Lebanon VA Medical Center is one of 170 medical centers in the nation with the sole purpose of providing world-class medical care to America’s Veterans. Lebanon VAMC serves a nine county area in South Central Pennsylvania covering Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill and York counties. Lebanon VAMC also currently oversees community clinics located in Camp Hill, Lancaster, Pottsville, Wyomissing, York and Fort Indiantown Gap. If you are a Veteran, you may be eligible to receive care and benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more, call 717-228-6000.
