Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness

The purpose of the PAIMI program is to pursue administrative, legal, and other appropriate remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations. The PAIMI program is also intended to protect and advocate for the rights of adults w

The PAIMI grant program is intended to protect and advocate for the rights of adults with Significant (Serious) Mental Illness (SMI) and children with Significant (Serious) Impairment or Emotional Disturbances (SED) through activities to ensure the enforcement of the Constitution, and Federal and State statutes.

Eligibility is statutorily limited to "eligible systems" within the states, the District of Columbia, the American Indian Consortium, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The term "eligible system" means the system established in a state/territory to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities under subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 15053].

Individuals with significant mental illness (adults) and or significant severe emotional impairment (children/youth) who are at risk for abuse, neglect, or civil rights violations while residing in care or treatment facilities have service priority. Individuals with significant mental illness (adults) and severe significant emotional impairment (children/youth) living in the community settings, including their own home, may be served as determined by their state protection and advocacy systems PAIMI program funded priorities and objectives and available resources includes individuals persons who are in the process of being admitted to a facility rendering care or treatment, individuals being transported to such a facility, or individuals who are involuntarily confined in a municipal detention facility, jails, or prisons

Law, Justice, and Legal Services Funds may be used to assist in meeting the costs of planning, developing, expanding, and implementing activities to support attainment of the protection and advocacy goals. Not more than 10 percent of an allotment can be used for providing technical assistance and training for staff. Also, a a system which is a public entity cannot be required by the State to obligate more than 5 percent of the allotment for administrative expenses.

Law, Justice, and Legal Services Funds may be used to assist in meeting the costs of planning, developing, expanding, and implementing activities to support attainment of the protection and advocacy goals. Not more than 10 percent of an allotment can be used for providing technical assistance and training for staff. Also, a a system which is a public entity cannot be required by the State to obligate more than 5 percent of the allotment for administrative expenses.

Each allotment is available for obligation for a 24-month period; payments are made through an Electronic Transfer System.

Applications for allotments must fulfill statutory requirements. For information on statutory and Federal regulations requirements contact: Karen Armstrong, Division of State & Community Systems Development, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, HHS, 5600 Fisher Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

Grants are directly awarded by the Center for Mental Health Services to the system established in the State to protect and advocate the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, as outlined in the "Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000", as amended October 30, 2000 by Public Law 106-420 (45 USC 6041 et seq.) .