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The Office of Recipient Rights protects the rights granted to recipients (individuals receiving services) of public mental health services by:
Recipient Rights advocacy and protection are the responsibility of all network provider employees therefore all are considered to be mandated reporters.
When any mandated reporter suspects a recipient rights violation has occurred, they shall take the following actions:
The Recipient Rights Office is mandated by the law, the Michigan Mental Health Code, to have access to any and all information necessary to conduct a thorough investigation. The Rights Office shall:
Recipients and staff can most effectively use the rights system when they have received appropriate training, education, and information. The Recipient Rights Office will provide Recipient Rights Orientation (within 30 days of hire) and Annual Recipient Rights training as required by the Michigan Mental Health Code and LifeWays contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Recipient Rights Orientation
Please remember it is a Mental Health Code requirement that all LifeWays and LifeWays Network Provider employees receive Recipient Rights training within 30 days of hire. Classes are offered the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Pine Room at LifeWays in Jackson from 8:45 a.m. - noon. No registration is required.
Education shall include:
Critical Incidents are defined as events or incidents involving a recipient that are out of the ordinary and serious (critical) in nature. Critical incidents are to be documented on the LifeWays Critical Incident Report form and the following pertinent information shall be included:
Incident Reports are to be completed and submitted to the Recipient Rights Office within 48 hours or 2 business days. Please refer to Recipient Rights procedure 2-04.02 for a list of incidents/events meeting criteria for reporting.
Link: Advisory Council Application.
The LifeWays Board of Directors are mandated to appoint a Recipient Rights Advisory Committee which is broadly based to best represent the varied perspectives of the community mental health service program’s geographic area.
The Recipient Rights Advisory Committee shall:
The Recipient Rights Appeals Committee is appointed to hear appeals of recipient rights investigations. Those individuals with appeal rights are:
The Recipient Rights Appeals Committee shall review the facts as stated in the investigation documents and shall then take action in accordance with the Michigan Mental Health Code standards.
RR staff are available in Hillsdale by appointment. The Rights staff can be contacted as follows:
D'Angela O'Dowd, Recipient Rights Officer 1200 N. West Ave Jackson, MI 49202
Ph: 517.796.4516 Fax: 517.789.7564
Ashlee Griffes, Recipient Rights Specialist 1200 N. West Ave Jackson, MI 49202
Ph: 517.780.3325 Fax: 517.789.7564
LaShanda Walker Recipient Rights Specialist 1200 N. West Ave Jackson MI 49202
Ph: 517.796.4527 Fax: 517.789.7564
Audra Hornbeck, Recipient Rights Admin. Assistant 1200 N. West Ave Jackson, MI 49202
Ph: 517.789.1237 Fax: 517.789.7564
Recipient Rights Complaint Form Whistleblower's Protection Act Residential Bill of Rights Bill of Rights Recipient Rights Check Request Form Code of Responsibilities Abuse & Neglect Poster
LifeWays' network providers are required to follow LifeWays Recipient Rights policies and procedures and have ready access to the policies and procedures at each program/service site.
2-01.01 Protection of Recipient Rights 2-01.02 Suitable Services, Treatment Environment Person-Centered Planning 2-01.03 Recipient Rights Training 2-01.04 Communications, Mail, Telephone, Visits 2-01.05 Personal Property 2-01.06 Seclusion, Restraint, Freedom of Movement 2-01.07 Fingerprinting, Photographs, Audiotape, or Use of One-Way Glass 2-01.08 Admission and Discharge 2-01.09 Resident Labor 2-01.10 Sterilization, Abortion, Contraception 2-01.11 Code of Responsibilities 2-01.12 Recipient Rights Liaisons 2-02.01 Recipient Rights Advisory Council 2-02.02 Appeals/Appeals Committee 2-03.01 Access to Case Records 2-04.01 Recipient Rights Death Reporting 2-04.02 Incident Report Process 2-04.03 Intervention Complaints 2-04.04 Abuse and Neglect Reporting 2-04.05 Investigation of Recipient Right Complaints 2-04.06 Duty to Warn 2-04.07 Adverse Event Reporting and Review