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In This Issue:
Elizabeth Spurrell, LICSW, MPH, Passageway advocate, and Sarah Boonin, Esq., attorney at WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, during a counseling session.
For victims of domestic violence, it can be emotionally difficult to follow through and pursue legal outcomes that could increase their safety.
That’s why Passageway, BWH’s domestic violence intervention group, teamed up with the WilmerHale Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School. The partnership joins the legal expertise of attorneys and law students with the clinical expertise of Passageway advocates to offer BWH patients and staff access to much needed legal resources through the Passageway Health/Law Collaborative (PHLC).
“This partnership has really flourished over the past four years to meet the legal needs of survivors of domestic violence in creative and holistic ways,” said Melanie LeGeros, LICSW, of Passageway. “Survivors have access to legal resources that are sensitive and responsive to the emotional impacts on them, as well as support, counseling and safety planning from Passageway staff.”
Clients appreciate being able to navigate the legal system with assistance from a lawyer attuned to the complexities of domestic violence and support from advocates who help them process the emotional impact of legal interventions.
“I feel more confident and much safer than before PHLC became involved with my case,” one client stated.
Another said, “The PHLC helped me build a sense of pride, strength and well-being. It gave me a path of hope to feel safer and confident.”
Last year, the PHLC provided legal services to more than 100 Passageway clients on issues as diverse as family law, special education, estate and permanency planning for children, housing, bankruptcy, benefits law and employment law. The PHLC also provided at least 45 consultations to Passageway advocates seeking legal input and advice for patients.
“By positioning legal and advocacy services in close relationship to one another, clients are able to engage in legal services with the benefit of ongoing advocacy and support,” LeGeros said.
This winter, the partnership piloted a workshop series open to all patients and employees who want to learn about basic legal issues affecting victims of domestic violence.
Plans are in place to continue this cutting-edge collaboration by providing high quality care to victims of domestic violence, as well as training and education to the BWH community. For more information on the PHLC, call Passageway at 617-732-8753.
Passageway Health/Law Collaborative offers this legal workshop Oct. 1, noon – 1:30 p.m., at Faulkner Hospital. Call 617-983-7854 to RSVP. The workshop also will be held Nov. 4 at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center. Call 617-983-4148 to RSVP.