Addressing health-related legal needs through community partnerships
Official title: A systems-level perspective to addressing health harming legal needs via a joint Health Equity Collective and MLP network approach"
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11019732 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how teaming up with legal experts can help families with kids from low-income and communities of color get the support they need for health-related legal issues, and it aims to understand the challenges they face in healthcare settings to improve their overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $104,409 |
| NIH project number | 5K01MD017635-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019732 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients from low-income families or communities of color who may face legal challenges affecting their health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not belong to low-income or marginalized communities may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how medical legal partnerships can help resolve health-harming legal needs for low-income and communities of color, particularly focusing on pediatric families. By integrating patient perspectives, the study aims to identify barriers within healthcare settings that affect care coordination and screening processes. The approach involves qualitative interviews with key informants to gather insights on lived experiences and challenges faced by these communities. The ultimate goal is to enhance the effectiveness of legal interventions in improving health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve health outcomes for families by effectively addressing legal issues that negatively impact their health.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been interest in medical legal partnerships, this research is novel as it addresses gaps in understanding their effectiveness in the southern U.S.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John, Jemima C — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: John, Jemima C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.