Advocacy
We advocate for people with mental illness and
their families in a variety of ways. We can assist
callers who need help sorting through the maze of
mental health services, both public and private. If
appropriate, we will make a referral to the
assessment program at Netcare Corporation, the
agency that determines eligibility for community
treatment teams, or other agencies such as Advocacy
and Protective Services, or Ohio Legal Rights
Service.
We also work with family members of persons with
mental illness to help them understand
confidentiality and its limits, and how to get
emergency services in a crisis. We discuss problems
involved when the client is refusing help. We
encourage family members to seek help through
support groups and educational programs. We also
identify other community resources and provide
literature on mental illness.
We may also call a mental health center to
clarify information for a client or their family
member, or refer them to the Client Rights Officer
at the mental health agency if they wish to file a
grievance. On occasion, we also advocate on behalf
of persons with mental illness in the prison system,
and arrange for intervention of a potential suicide.
We have a full-time Ombudsman on staff who helps
clients and their family members navigate the mental
health and alcohol/drug system.
Click here for more
information about the Ombudsman program.
We also provide advocacy in the legislative area.
Click here for
more information on legislative advocacy.
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