At Prevention Point Philadelphia, we believe in a low barrier, person-centered approach, which means addressing all the factors that impact a person's health and well-being—and that includes legal issues. Thanks to a grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and as part of a larger national RHAPSODI project (Reimagining Health and Public Safety Overdose Initiatives), we partnered with the Defender Association of Philadelphia to bring on-site legal services to our Kensington location. This collaboration provided critical support to People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) with outstanding legal issues. Our goal was to help individuals resolve legal problems, avoid incarceration, and reduce their risk of overdose, which is significantly higher for those with justice involvement.
Through this project, we held 26 free legal clinics and connected 181 individuals directly with the Defender Association. Public defenders and our case managers worked together to help clear warrants, address parole violations, and reduce ongoing legal entanglements. Beyond the direct legal support, the project gave us vital insights into the community's experience. Through surveys and our Participant Advisory Board, individuals shared how harassment from law enforcement creates significant barriers to accessing public spaces and essential services. This project reinforced our commitment to addressing these systemic issues and demonstrated the life-saving power of providing comprehensive care that meets people where they are.
This project’s success has inspired a clear path forward. we are committed to making these vital services a more permanent part of our operations and are actively fundraising to bring our on-site clinics back to a weekly schedule. We are also scaling up routinized docket reads at check in for medical services and training of all Case Managers to conduct legal advocacy as part of case management. This will allow us to proactively identify participants in need of legal support and ensure that addressing legal needs is a standard part of the comprehensive care we provide at Prevention Point Philadelphia.