Tenant's Rights Policy
Franklin County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Tenant Rights
1. The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy, and privacy.
2. The right to service in a humane setting which is the least restrictive feasible as defined in the treatment plan.
3. The right to be informed of one's own condition, of proposed or current services, treatment or therapies, and of the alternatives.
4. The right to consent to or refuse any service, treatment, or therapy upon full explanation of the expected consequences of such consent or refusal. A parent or legal guardian may consent to or refuse any service, treatment or therapy on behalf of a minor tenant.
5. The right to a current, written, individualized service plan that addresses one's own mental health, physical health, social and economic needs, and that specifies the provision of appropriate and adequate services, as available, either directly or by referral.
6. The right to active and informed participation in the establishment, periodic review, and reassessment of the service plan.
7. The right to freedom from unnecessary or excessive medication.
8. The right to freedom from unnecessary restraint or seclusion.
9. The right to participate in any appropriate and available agency service, regardless of refusal of one or more other services, treatments, therapies, or regardless of relapse from earlier treatment in that or another service, unless there is a valid and specific necessity which precludes and/or requires the tenant's participation in other services. This necessity shall be explained to the tenant and written in the tenant's current service plan.
10. The right to be informed of and to refuse any unusual or hazardous treatment procedures.
11. The right to be advised of and to refuse observation by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recorders, televisions, movies or photographs.
12. The right to have the opportunity to consult with independent treatment specialists or legal counsel, at one?s own expense.
13. The right to confidentiality of communications and of all personally identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of various fundings and/or certifying sources, state, or federal statutes, unless release of information is specifically authorized by the tenant or parent or legal guardian of a minor tenant or court-appointed guardian of the person of an adult tenant in accordance with Rule 5122:2-3-11 of the Administrative Code.
14. The right to have access to one's own psychiatric, medical or other treatment records, unless access to particular identified items of information is specifically restricted for that individual tenant for clear treatment reasons in the tenant?s treatment plan. Clear treatment reasons shall be understood to mean only severe emotional damage to the tenant such that dangerous or self-injurious behavior is an imminent risk. The person restricting the information shall explain to the tenant and other persons authorized by the tenant the factual information about the individual tenant that necessitates the restriction. The restriction must be renewed at least annually to retain validity. Any person authorized by the tenant has unrestricted access to all information. Tenants shall be informed in writing of agency policies and procedures for viewing or obtaining copies of personal records.
15. The right to be informed in advance of the reason(s) for discontinuance of service provision, and to be involved in planning for the consequences of that event.
16. The right to receive an explanation of the reasons for denial of service.
17. The right not to be discriminated against in the provision of service on the basis of religion, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, lifestyle, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, or inability to pay.
18. The right to know the cost of services.
19. The right to be fully informed of all rights.
20. The right to exercise any and all rights without reprisal in any form, including continued and uncompromised access to service.
21. The right to file a grievance.
22. The right to have oral and written instructions for filing a grievance.
23. The right to be treated with cultural sensitivity.
Rights of Tenants Receiving Forensic Evaluation Service from a Certified Forensic Center
1. The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity.
2. The right to be evaluated in a physical environment affording as much privacy as feasible.
3. The right to service in a human setting which is the least restrictive feasible if such setting is under the control of the forensic center.
4. The right to be informed of the purpose and procedures of the evaluation service.
5. The right to consent to or refuse the forensic evaluation services and to be informed of the probable consequences of refusal.
6. The right to freedom from unnecessary restraint or seclusion if such restraint or seclusion is within the control of the forensic center.
7. The right to be advised of and refuse observation by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recordings, televisions, movies, or photographs unless ordered by the court, in which case, the tenant must be informed of such technique.
8. The right not to be discriminated against in the provision of service on the basis of religion, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, lifestyle, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, or inability to pay.
9. The right to be fully informed of all rights.
10. The right to exercise any and all rights without reprisal in any form.
11. The right to file a grievance.
12. The right to have oral and written instructions for filing a grievance, including an explanation that the filing of a grievance is exclusively an an administrative proceeding within the mental health system and will not affect or delay the outcome of criminal charges.
13. The right to have administrative proceeding within the mental health system and will not affect or delay the outcome of criminal charges.
Community Housing Network Policy on Tenant Rights
Tenant Right's Officer
Name: Vanitia N. Turner
Location: Community Housing Network, 1680 Watermark Drive, Columbus, OH 43215
Hours of Availability: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
Telephone Number: (614) 487-6759
The Tenant Rights Officer is available to explain any and all aspects of tenant rights and the grievance procedure upon request during normal business hours. The Tenant Rights Officer is an impartial decision-maker. If it is a grievance against the Tenant Rights Officer contact the back up Tenant Right's Officer, Ms. Cheryl Whitmire, at 487-6765. After normal business hours please leave a phone message. Calls will be returned within 48 hours. For maintenance our agency has an on-call policy.
Distribution
Distribution of the Tenant Rights Policy will be made at time of lease signing and at anytime a tenant may request another copy. CHN will distribute upon request.
- In a crisis or emergency situation, the tenant or applicant shall be verbally advised of at least the immediately pertinent rights, such as the right to consent to or to refuse the offered agreement and consequences of that agreement or refusal. Written copy and full verbal explanation of the tenant rights policy may be delayed to a subsequent meeting.
- Tenants may have a copy and explanation of the tenant rights policy upon request. A member of CHN staff will assist the tenant if desired by the Griever and/or represent the tenant at the hearing.
- Community Housing Network will post a copy of the tenant rights policy in a conspicuous location in each building it operates.
There are provisions for all staff including administrative and support staff to immediately advise any tenant about the Tenant Rights Policy and the right to file a grievance. All staff is willing to assist tenant in completing the grievance form, if needed.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide a formal process for tenants leasing Community Housing Network housing or applicants seeking Community Housing Network housing to make problems and disputes known and to seek resolution through the grievance procedure.
Policy
It is the intent of Community Housing Network to provide choice of and access to quality, affordable, permanent rental housing to tenants served by Community Treatment Teams and referred by the Franklin County Mental Health System; and to provide this housing in fair, equitable, and expedient manner.
Grievance Procedure
When a tenant believes an issue has not been satisfactorily resolved through the normal communication, the following grievance procedure is followed.
- The issue and desired outcome are to be described in writing as a grievance and submitted to the Tenant Rights Officer. It is preferred that a grievance form be completed and turned in within 5 business days after rights violation, however, the Griever has an indefinite amount of time to file. CHN will provide the Griever a representative at the agency hearing, if requested. The Tenant Rights Officer, will attempt within 2 working days of receipt of written grievance, to arrange a meeting among all parties involved to attempt to come to satisfactory resolution. The Tenant Rights Officer will make a determination in writing to all parties within 3 days of the meeting.
- The decision of the Tenant Rights Officer may be appealed to the Chief Operating Officer. Notice of such an appeal must be made in writing to Community Housing Network. The Chief Operating Officer or designee will respond within 2 working days.
- The decision of the Chief Operating Officer may be appealed to the Executive Director. Notice of such an appeal must be made in writing to Community Housing Network. The Executive Director or designee will respond within 2 working days.
The decision of the Executive Director may be appealed to the Board of Trustees of Community Housing Network. Notice of such an appeal must be made in writing to Community Housing Network. The Community Housing Network Board of Trustees must meet within 10 days of receipt of the notice to hear the grievance and will make a determination at its meeting.
CHN will provide written notification and explanation of the resolution to the tenant or Griever if other than the tenant.
CHN will provide, upon written request from the Griever, information about the grievance to one or more entities.
The Griever has the option of appealing other state and federal level agencies such as the ADAMH Board, Ohio Department of Mental Health, the Ohio Legal Rights Service, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or others. Listed below:
Attorney General's Office
Health Care Fraud Unit
101 E. Town Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
ADA-Ohio
700 Morse Rd., Suite 101
Columbus, OH 43214
(800) 322-6446 - V
(800) 232-2321 - TDD
(614) 844-5410 - Local
Tenant Advocacy Coordinator Ohio Department of Mental Health
30 East Broad Street, 8th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0414
(614) 466-2333
(614) 466-1571 (Fax)
Tenant Assistance Program (For Vocational Rehabilitation) C/O Ohio Legal Rights Service
8 East Long Street
(614) 466-7264
(800) 282-9181
(614) 644-1888 (Fax)
Nursing Education & Nurse Reg. Bd.
77 South High Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0316
(614) 466-3947
Office of the Americans w/Disabilities U.S. Department of Justice
Box 66118
Washington, DC 20035-6118
ADA Info. Line (800) 514-1301 - V
(800) 514-0383 - T
Ohio Governor's Council on People W/Disabilities
400 E. Campus View Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43235
(800) 282-4536 ext. 391 or (614) 438-1391 both VT
Ohio Legal Rights Service
8 East Long Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0523
(614) 4166-7264
(800) 282-9181
(614) 644-1888 (Fax)
Ohio Psychiatric Association
1480 West Lane Avenue, Suite F
Columbus, OH 43221-3950
(614) 481-7555
(614) 481-7559 (Fax)
Ohio Resource Center on Deafness
199 S. Central Avenue
Columbus, OH 43223
(800) 301-3323
614) 228-3323 (Voice and TDD) Local
President's Committee on Employment Of People with Disabilities
1331 F. Street, NW, 3rd Street
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 376-6200 - V or (202) 376-6205 - T
State Board of Psychology
77 South High Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0321
(614) 644-8808
(614) 644-8112
Counselor & Social Work Board
77 S. High Street, 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0340
(614) 466-0912
State Medical Board
77 S. High Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0315
(614) 466-3934
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Serv. Office for Civil Rights - Region V
ATTN: Marilyn Brusherd
105 West Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 886-5078
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 1801 L. Street, NW, Room 9024 Washington, DC 20507 (800) 669-4000 - V (800) 669-6820 - T
Equal Employment Opportunity Cleveland Office
Skylight Tower
1600 W. 2nd Street, Suite 850
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 522-2001
(216) 522-2002
Download the CHN Grievance form.
Monitoring
Agency CRO assures keeping of records of grievances.
Agency records are available for review by the Board and ODMH upon request.
Agency submits annual summary report to Board including number of grievances received, type of grievances, and resolution status of grievance.
To ensure availability, this procedure will be posted in the waiting area of the offices of Community Housing Network and at all CHN service providing facilities.
