Recipient Rights
Your Rights, Policies and Procedures
Your Rights
Every individual receiving mental health services has the same rights as those who do not. However, individuals receiving services within the public mental health system are granted additional rights specific to mental health and intellectual/developmental disability services. These rights are detailed in Chapter 7-7A of the Michigan Mental Health Code and other related laws.
BCCMHA staff are responsible to protect individual's rights when they provide services and care. Every person is encouraged to ask questions about their treatment, about their rights, and to make suggestions that they feel are in their best interest.
To help individuals understand their rights, each person is given a booklet called "Your Rights," provided when services or care begins. This same booklet is handed back out each year thereafter. Some of your rights include:
- the right to be free from abuse and neglect
- the right to confidentiality (privacy)
- the right to be treated with dignity and respect
- the right to services that meet your needs
You may also download the booklet below:
• English Your Rights Handbook
• Spanish Your Rights Handbook (Sus Derechos: Al recibir Servicios de Salud Mental en Michigan)
• Arabic Your Rights Handbook (حقوقك عند تلقي خدمات الصحة النفسیة في میشیغان)
File A Complaint
Anyone may file a Recipient Rights complaint any time you think staff violated your rights or someone else’s rights. You can make a rights complaint by telephone, letter, email, or on a Recipient Rights complaint form. Allegations of abuse and neglect need to be reported IMMEDIATELY. If you don’t know which county to notify don’t worry, there is no wrong door for rights. The rights office will assist you locating the correct CMH or Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Office of Recipient Rights. Please contact:
Holly Hess
Recipient Rights Officer
500 Barfield Drive
Hastings, Michigan
Phone: 269-948-8041, ext. 122
Email: hohess@bccmha.org
Your complaint needs to contain:
• A statement telling the Rights Office what you are complaining about;
• What right(s) you think have been violated;
• What you think will resolve the complaint.
If you want help writing your complaint, a BCCMHA staff member or the Recipient Rights Office will be glad to assist you.
Substance Use Disorder Services Complaints
If you receive substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorder with substance use disorder, you have rights protected by the Public Health Code. These rights will also be explained to you when you start services and then once again every year.
If you are receiving SUD rights and feel your rights have been violated please contact:
Holly Hess
Recipient Rights Officer
500 Barfield Drive
Hastings, Michigan
Phone: 269-948-8041, ext. 122
Email: hohess@bccmha.org
Contact Information
The Office of Recipient Rights works to safeguard rights guaranteed by the Mental Health Code through advocacy, education, monitoring and investigation of alleged violations. If you have a question or concern about your rights please contact the Office of Recipient Rights at:
Holly Hess
Recipient Rights Officer
500 Barfield Drive
Hastings, Michigan
Phone: 269-948-8041, ext. 122
Email: hohess@bccmha.org
We thank you in advance for helping to protect the rights of individuals receiving mental health services.
Additional Resources
Rights Policies and Procedures
Abuse and Neglect
Adult Foster Care Rights, Referrals and Monitoring
Affordable Care Act of Grievance
Appeal and Grievance, Fair Hearing, Second Opinion
Behavior Treatment Plan Review Committee
Confidentiality & Disclosure of Substance Use Disorder
Complaint and Appeal Process
Communication by Phone, Mail and Visits
Confidentiality
Dignity and Respect
Duty to Warn
Family Planning
Finger Printing, One-Way Glass, Photography, Audio Videotaping
Incident Reporting
Incident Report Quick Fact Sheet
Independent Respite Staff Documentation
Informed Consent to Treatment
Least Restrictive Treatment Environment
Personal Property, Funds and Labor
Person Centered Planning
Psychiatric Services and Medication
Recipient Rights Advisory Committee
Recipient Rights Qualification and Training Requirements
Restraint and Seclusion
Recipient Rights Advisory Committee Meetings
You are welcome to attend our RRAC meetings. Please contact Holly Hess prior to attending for location or remote access information and to confirm meeting date as the schedule may change due to holidays or unforeseen events. To become a member, please download the membership application:
RRAC Membership Application
Holly Hess
Recipient Rights Officer
500 Barfield Drive
Hastings, Michigan
Phone: 269-948-8041, ext. 122
Email: hohess@bccmha.org
2024 Meeting Dates
RRAC meets quarterly at the BCCMHA Clinic and is subject to the Open Meetings Act, (ACT No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976), being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Meeting minutes are available upon request.
• March 6, 2024, 8:30 am
• June 5, 2024, 8:30 am
• September 4, 2024, 8:30 am
• December 4, 2024, 8:30 am