Protection & advocacy for individuals with mntl illness

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded $632,033 to Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Inc. on October 1, 2025, under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program (CFDA 93.138).

DRC, headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, pursues administrative, legal, and other remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations affecting adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance. The program protects and advocates for the rights of these populations through activities ensuring enforcement of the Constitution and Federal and State statutes. Service priority goes to individuals with serious mental illness or severe emotional impairment at risk for abuse, neglect, or civil rights violations while residing in care or treatment facilities; individuals with serious mental illness living in community settings, including their own homes, may be served as determined by DRC's PAIMI program priorities and available resources.

The award covers the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Place of performance is Topeka, Kansas. This is a formula grant awarded directly to the state-designated protection and advocacy system, in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.