Community Supports and Clients Rights
Through its Office of Community Supports and Clients Rights, the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) promotes the rights of people receiving mental health services. The office focuses on the integration of consumer rights and responsibilities into quality clinical care and community initiatives that support resiliency and recovery. Collaborative efforts are aimed at ensuring that consumer rights and the consumer voice remain an integral part of planning and decision-making processes, whether they involve research, prevention, emergency preparedness, evidence-based best practices or community supports. A number of state and local organizations also assist consumers and their families in understanding mental illnesses, their rights and responsibilities, and the mental health system. Information about a number of those groups can be found in this section.
Consumer Employment
Work can be a big boost to a person’s recovery from mental illness. Unfortunately, the current rate of employment among people with mental illness is very low despite research evidence that strongly supports the critical impact that work plays in promoting recovery. ODMH is committed to helping consumers of mental health services locate, obtain and maintain employment. View more consumer employment information...
Consumer Benefits
Cash and medical assistance benefits provide essential support for many people with serious mental illness. Historically, people with disabilities were often discouraged from working because their earnings made them ineligible for Medicaid coverage. Mental health consumers who do work often experience delays in the processing of SSI and Medicaid applications. ODMH supports strategies to improve access to these benefits for people with serious mental illness, including strategies that enable Ohioans with disabilities to work and still keep their health care coverage and strategies that expedite access to cash and medical resources for consumers and Medicaid reimbursement for provider organizations. View more consumer benefits information...
Cluster-Based Planning
Cluster-Based Planning and Outcomes Management (C-POM), developed in Ohio by Synthesis, Inc., is based on the understanding that large groups of people (e.g. adults with severe mental disabilities, youth with mental health needs, or adults with substance abuse issues) cannot be treated as if all the individuals were members of a single homogeneous group. Instead, within these populations there are distinct subgroups or “clusters.” By identifying and measuring targeted outcomes for each group, and tracking services, C-POM assists in answering the question: What works, for whom, and at what cost?
Learn more about Cluster-Based Planning at Synthesis, Inc.
Client Rights and Resources/Toll-Free Bridge
A variety of advocacy services and resources are available for consumers and families, including but not limited to mental health resources, technical assistance and help with resolving complaints and grievances. One resource is The Consumer and Family Toll-Free Bridge line, which provides referral and resource information specifically to consumers and their family members regarding mental health services, supports, and organizations statewide. View more client rights and resources information...
Housing
Obtaining independent housing with access to services in the community is a primary goal and value shared by people with mental illnesses. With stable, permanent housing in place, individuals can achieve other important life goals, including improved health, education, job training and employment. During April 2010, ODMH finalized its Adult Housing Policy for people with severe mental illness. View more housing information...
Homelessness
The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 authorized a federal grant program to address the needs of people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program funds community-based outreach related to mental health, substance abuse and case management. Services are provided to people who have not yet been linked with needed mainstream mental health services. View more information about the PATH program and resources related to homelessness...
Consumer and Family Partnership
The Ohio Department of Mental Health's (ODMH) Consumer and Family Partnership Team (CFPT) is designed to increase and strengthen consumer and family representation on ODMH committees and workgroups. Team membership includes consumers, family members and ODMH representatives. Consumers and family members may be reimbursed (using CFPT funds) for mileage, meals and other expenses incurred through attendance at meetings, trainings or conferences.
Scholarship and Technical Assistance Funds
Scholarship and technical assistance funds are available to eligible consumer and family members to attend workshops, conferences or to participate in educational trainings. Mental Health America of Franklin County manages these funds statewide for ODMH. To learn more about these funds and download an application, visit the Scholarships section on the Mental Health America of Franklin County Web site.