The Great Recession of 2007-08 brought financial hardship in a time when the region was experiencing a growth in population. Rates of poverty rose, in MetroWest more than other parts of the state, causing concern for the service providers in the region.
The economic reality, and the presence of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Framingham and Milford, provided ripe opportunity for MetroWest Legal Services and the health center staff to build a medical-legal partnership locally, building on the success of other similar models across the state and country. Staff at EMK were already working with staff at Community Legal Aid to facilitate such a program in Worcester. Medical-legal partnerships have numerous benefits for those they serve. The model itself has roots in Boston Medical Center in the early 1990s. Beginning in 2004, legal staff worked with EMK patients - particularly those uninsured or underinsured, low-income earners, and individuals with limited English proficiency - to overcome barriers and navigate the complicated matrix of health insurance and social services. The close collaboration between the two organizations promotes patient participation and ultimately improves health outcomes.