Protection & advocacy for individuals with mntl illness

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Disability Rights California $4,297,802 under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness program (CFDA 93.138) on October 1, 2025.

Disability Rights California, doing business as D R C, is California's designated Protection and Advocacy system serving individuals with mental illness. The award funds administrative, legal, and other remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations affecting adults with significant mental illness and children with significant emotional impairment or disturbance. Service priority focuses on individuals at risk for abuse, neglect, or civil rights violations while residing in care or treatment facilities, though the organization may also serve individuals in community settings as determined by available resources and state priorities. Eligible beneficiaries include individuals in the process of admission to care or treatment facilities, those being transported to such facilities, and those involuntarily confined in municipal detention facilities, jails, or prisons.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. Performance takes place in Sacramento, California. D R C delivers comprehensive legal advocacy, support services, and rights protection across California, including legal representation, systemic investigations, benefits counseling, training, information dissemination, and community integration support.