Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity

Background: Health justice partnerships (HJP) embed legal support into health care teams to address patient unmet legal needs. Families experiencing adversity are likely to have multiple legal needs yet are unlikely to seek legal assistance. Implementing a HJP within an integrated health and social...

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Main Authors: Sarah Loveday, Suzie Forell, Rebecca Bosward, Lingling Chen, Leanne N. Constable, Wilhelmina Ebbett, Ashraful Kabir, Hueiming Liu, Alexandra Preddy, Natalie White, Harriet Hiscock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Integrated Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/8917
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author Sarah Loveday
Suzie Forell
Rebecca Bosward
Lingling Chen
Leanne N. Constable
Wilhelmina Ebbett
Ashraful Kabir
Hueiming Liu
Alexandra Preddy
Natalie White
Harriet Hiscock
author_facet Sarah Loveday
Suzie Forell
Rebecca Bosward
Lingling Chen
Leanne N. Constable
Wilhelmina Ebbett
Ashraful Kabir
Hueiming Liu
Alexandra Preddy
Natalie White
Harriet Hiscock
author_sort Sarah Loveday
collection DOAJ
description Background: Health justice partnerships (HJP) embed legal support into health care teams to address patient unmet legal needs. Families experiencing adversity are likely to have multiple legal needs yet are unlikely to seek legal assistance. Implementing a HJP within an integrated health and social care hub may improve outcomes for families by addressing adversity related to unmet legal need. Methods: A mixed-method evaluation of new HJPs was conducted across two sites in Australia. Process data were collected regarding the use of the legal services. Qualitative data explored the experience of legal support. Results: Forty caregivers were referred across two sites with 38 seen over the first 12 months. Caregivers had an average 2.5 legal issues each; 65% of referrals were for family violence and family law matters, 31% were for civil law matters and 4% were for criminal matters. Qualitative data demonstrated the value of HJP to increase practitioner confidence and understanding of legal support pathways while empowering caregivers to access legal support. Conclusions: These HJPs improved access to legal support for families experiencing adversity and enabled early intervention. Improved outcomes from HJP depends upon the level of investment from each partner and the level of assistance the HJP can provide.
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spelling doaj-art-62759d787a8e4735939e0c080db658222025-08-20T02:17:28ZengUbiquity PressInternational Journal of Integrated Care1568-41562025-03-0125131310.5334/ijic.89178813Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood AdversitySarah Loveday0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6512-8900Suzie Forell1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1453-5669Rebecca Bosward2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3368-0781Lingling Chen3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3435-1282Leanne N. Constable4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5692-8882Wilhelmina Ebbett5Ashraful Kabir6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6851-1507Hueiming Liu7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9077-8673Alexandra Preddy8Natalie White9https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6164-9038Harriet Hiscock10https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3017-2770Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria; Health Services, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VictoriaHealth Justice Australia, Darlinghurst, New South WalesSydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South WalesHealth Services, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VictoriaHealth Services, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VictoriaSydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South WalesHealth Services, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VictoriaThe George Institute for Global Health, Camperdown, New South WalesSydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South WalesCentre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VictoriaDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria; Health Services, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria; Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VictoriaBackground: Health justice partnerships (HJP) embed legal support into health care teams to address patient unmet legal needs. Families experiencing adversity are likely to have multiple legal needs yet are unlikely to seek legal assistance. Implementing a HJP within an integrated health and social care hub may improve outcomes for families by addressing adversity related to unmet legal need. Methods: A mixed-method evaluation of new HJPs was conducted across two sites in Australia. Process data were collected regarding the use of the legal services. Qualitative data explored the experience of legal support. Results: Forty caregivers were referred across two sites with 38 seen over the first 12 months. Caregivers had an average 2.5 legal issues each; 65% of referrals were for family violence and family law matters, 31% were for civil law matters and 4% were for criminal matters. Qualitative data demonstrated the value of HJP to increase practitioner confidence and understanding of legal support pathways while empowering caregivers to access legal support. Conclusions: These HJPs improved access to legal support for families experiencing adversity and enabled early intervention. Improved outcomes from HJP depends upon the level of investment from each partner and the level of assistance the HJP can provide.https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/8917health justice partnershipchildhood adversityintegrated carecommunity
spellingShingle Sarah Loveday
Suzie Forell
Rebecca Bosward
Lingling Chen
Leanne N. Constable
Wilhelmina Ebbett
Ashraful Kabir
Hueiming Liu
Alexandra Preddy
Natalie White
Harriet Hiscock
Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
International Journal of Integrated Care
health justice partnership
childhood adversity
integrated care
community
title Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
title_full Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
title_fullStr Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
title_full_unstemmed Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
title_short Health Justice Partnership: An Opportunity to Respond to Childhood Adversity
title_sort health justice partnership an opportunity to respond to childhood adversity
topic health justice partnership
childhood adversity
integrated care
community
url https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/8917
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