Social Work, Social Services and Legal Services: Collaborating for Impact

2024 Partners for Justice Conference (2)

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Social Work, Social Services and Legal Services: Collaborating for Impact

Wednesday, May 22, 2024  |  Room 348: 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM

Mental health disorders and housing insecurity have risen in the United States, which opens individuals and families to increased stress and mental and physical health problems. In general, evictions disproportionately affect low-income people of color, and the health consequences of eviction widen both racial and socioeconomic disparities in health as well.

How can the collective force of attorneys, social workers, and social service providers be leveraged to achieve equity and justice for all at the intersection of the legal system and life? A unique feature of Rising for Justice’s social work program is that it embeds within RFJ’s legal team such that clients receive both services simultaneously. The social work division partners with clients and their attorneys to assess clients for potential benefits, decide what services in the community may help, and support clients through the stressful process of walking through their legal cases. This structure allows RFJ’s legal and social work teams to collaborate to achieve the best results for its clients. Other legal services providers are also exploring, building, and pioneering similar structures – all to elevate, empower, and educate communities impacted by the legal system.

This panel will explore how collaborative structures that include social workers, attorneys or social services reinforce the coordination of services between disciplines to promote sustainable success for their clients affected by the legal system.

Panelists:

Moderator: Laurence Boylan, Maryland Legal Aid