Division of Behavioral Health Services

Office of Human Rights

Mission Statement

Providing advocacy to individuals with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) to help them understand, protect and exercise their rights, facilitate self-advocacy through education and obtain access to behavioral health services in the public behavioral health system in Arizona.

OHR provides different types of assistance to individuals with a SMI based on OHR's Priorities and Case Selection Criteria and the unique circumstances of each issue as follows:

• Representation of individuals in need of "Special Assistance" in service (ISP) and discharge planning (ITDP), and in the grievance and appeal processes
• Education to help individuals advocate for themselves and to understand, exercise and protect their rights
• Resolution of grievances (involving rights violations) and appeals (involving covered services)
• Facilitation of discharge to a community setting that is the "least restrictive environment" with appropriate supports

OHR performs other functions, including:

• Maintaining a list of all individuals determined to be in need of Special Assistance and creating and distributing monthly lists the Human Rights Committees and T/RBHAs
• Conducting outreach at direct care sites, psychiatric hospitals, and other behavioral health settings
• Identifying and addressing issues that are systemic in nature
• Reviewing Incident & Accident Reports and Seclusion and Restraint Reports involving individuals with a SMI and addressing any issues of concern
• Developing educational documents for individuals who have a SMI on rights, self-advocacy and other topics
• Conducting educational sessions for individuals in the system, T/RBHA/provider staff and other stakeholders on various topics
  

OHR Brochure (English)

Información de Oficina de Derechos Humanos en Español

Educational and Self-Advocacy Resources for Individuals with an SMI

• Your Rights in Arizona as a Person with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• Your rights while hospitalized and have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• Individual Service Planning Resources
• Overview of Complaints, Appeals and Grievances
• Appeal Resources for Persons Determined to Have a Serious Mental Illness
• PM Form 5.3.1 ADHS/DBHS Appeal or SMI Grievance

Recursos educativos y para defender sus derechos en Español para personas que padecen de una enfermedad mental grave

• Sus derechos en Arizona como una persona con una enfermedad mental grave (SMI)
• Sus derechos mientras esté hospitalizado y tenga una Enfermedad Mental Grave (SMI)
• Información del Plan de Servicios Individual
• Quejas, Apelaciones y reclamos formales: Diferentes maneras para dirigir sus dudas o preguntas
• Información general del proceso de apelación para personas que han sido determinadas con una enfermedad mental grave
• Forma PM 5.3.1 Forma De Apelación ADHS/DBHS o Queja SMI

Note: Information provided in PDF files, unless otherwise indicated.