The Center’s Medical Legal Partnership Project just completed their spring utility clinics. Over 165 families whose members included almost three hundred children benefited from the clinics.

The clinics took place in New Haven, Hartford and New Britain and were a collaborative effort of the  area hospitals – Yale-New Haven Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut. Pro Bono volunteers included lawyers from the law firm  of Murtha Cullina, L.L.P. as well as the legal department from the Aetna as coordinated by Attorney Barbara Hennessy. Additional volunteers included residents from the area hospitals and law students from the University of Connecticut  and Yale University. Community partners also attended  the event -  Community Resource Team of Hartford, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Community Action Agency of New Haven, Operation Fuel, End Hunger Connecticut, 211INFOLINE, and the Special Kids Support Center of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.  Food Share donated bags of food to our Hartford families and Hartford Baking Company and Panera of West Hartford generously donated refreshments.

Beyond providing access to local community services and supports, the goal of the clinic was to assist families in successfully maintaining their utility service. The local utility companies – Northeast Utilities, Connecticut Natural Gas, United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas – were on sight at the event and offered participants the most affordable payment arrangements available.

The Medical/Legal Partnership Project will be offering the next round clinics in the fall of 2014. If you need additional information about the clinics  or if your agency would be interested in having a training about helping clients maintain utility service please contact us.

Bonnie

Bonnie B. Roswig

Senior Staff Attorney

Medical/Legal Partnership Project

Center for Children’s Advocacy

(860) 545-8581