With a stroke of pen, the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) and several local law partners ushered in a new legal program for Veterans during an agreement signing ceremony last month at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.

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During the event, dozens of leaders from the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Stetson University Veterans Law Institute, Bay Area Legal Services, and Gulf Coast Legal Services gathered to recognize the start of the new Medical-Legal Partnership program – an achievement many months in the making.

“Today’s celebration at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System of our Medical-Legal Partnership represents an amazing start to the services Veterans and their families will receive here from our law partners and Stetson University,” said Suzanne M. Klinker, Director, Bay Pines VAHCS.

“[The program] is a terrific collaboration with our community in service to America’s heroes, and it makes a big difference for them and for us in helping them support their health outcomes and reach their goals,” she said.

MLP is a new program available at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center designed specifically for Veterans enrolled for care in our healthcare system who are in need of legal representation and/or consultation for non-criminal offenses, who may not otherwise be able to afford legal representation.

Services available to Veterans through the new program range from Veterans benefits and Social Security Disability, to family law, guardianship, landlord-tenant disputes and elder law.

The service is available to Veterans every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, building 100, room 1E-241.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 727-398-9592 or visit www.baypines.va.gov/services/MLP.asp.