2026 Poverty Law Conference: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

9:00am CDT

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) are designed to address legal problems before they become health-harming, yet their effectiveness often depends on the presence of Community Justice Workers (CJWs) as core members of the care team. This session will explore how CJWs, or non-attorney advocates, may strengthen MLPs by serving as trusted, community-based supports who help patients understand legal information, provide holistic navigation, and support accessible engagement with legal services. Presenters will discuss the potential role of CJWs within healthcare settings, how that role differs from attorneys and traditional support staff, and what considerations matter when integrating CJWs into an MLP model. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where CJWs may add value, what guardrails are needed, and how this approach could support more effective and accessible service delivery.

Speakers

Susan Soto

Staff Attorney, HVL/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Susan Soto is a licensed attorney with 15 years of experience in civil litigation. Prior to earning her law license, Susan was a teacher and principal in Texas public schools for almost 20 years. She has devoted her entire professional life to serving vulnerable communities and... Read More →

Maria Jose Vallejo

America Malacara

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

10:15am CDT

Age 18 Redeterminations: Keeping SSI from Childhood into Adulthood

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Conference Room 301

This presentation will focus on the transition from the child to adult disability standard, preserving social security benefits for youth turning 18, and a discussion on common issues and practical strategies such as early preparation, strong medical evidence, and clear documentation of work limitations.

Speakers

Komal Khan

Supervising Attorney -Legal Advocacy for Young Adults & Children (LAYAC) Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Melissa Gorley

LAYAC Staff Attorney- Legal Advocacy for Young Adults and Children, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas

Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

1:00pm CDT

Partnerships Within an MLP: Putting the Pieces Together

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Conference Room 301

The Houston Volunteer Lawyers/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership demonstrates that effective healthcare and legal aid solutions emerge through collaboration. Beyond embedding legal services in clinical settings, this MLP has built strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, advocacy groups, businesses, government leaders, and local attorneys, including founding a pro bono legal network in Fort Bend County. These partnerships create a comprehensive safety net and expand capacity to serve patients through direct pro bono legal representation. This breakout session examines how partnerships strengthen MLPs by reviewing current research on inter-organizational collaboration, sharing examples of successful partnership models, and guiding attendees through an interactive exercise to apply these strategies to their own programs and communities.

Speakers

Susan Soto

Staff Attorney, HVL/AccessHealth Medical-Legal Partnership, Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Thursday September 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Conference Room 301

Public Benefits & MLPs

2:15pm CDT

A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place: Protecting Family Homes from the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program

Thursday September 3, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Conference Room 301

The Medicaid Estate Recovery Program seeks to recover the costs of long-term medical care after a Medicaid recipient passes away. Low-resource individuals who qualify for Medicaid worry that their children will continue the cycle of poverty and be left without the family home.

This session is based on a project in which presenters have helped community members understand MERP and take steps to protect intergenerational assets before and after a loved one’s death. Presenters will discuss the disproportionate impact MERP can have on low-income and immigrant communities, the role estate planning can play in preventing avoidable loss, and how community justice workers and other trusted non-attorney advocates can help deliver critical legal information in accessible ways. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of the problem, the outreach and legal education strategies being used in response, and how similar approaches might be adapted in other settings.

This session discusses the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP), how it works, and how low-resource families can protect the family home with low-cost probate alternatives.

Speakers

Selma Lara

Attorney Fellow, Texas Immigration Law Council

Selma Lara is an attorney fellow at Texas Immigration Law Council as part of the Economic Justice Initiative. Her project revolves around estate planning, title clearing, and asset preservation for indigent individuals. As the first in her family to attend college, she graduated cum... Read More →