2080 Citygate Drive • Columbus, OH 43219
p: 614.445.3750 │ f: 614.445.3772
Client Rights
Ventures Academy
•The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy, and privacy;
•The right to service in a humane setting which is the least restrictive possible as defined in the treatment plan;
•The right to be informed of one’s own condition, of proposed or current services, treatment or therapies, and of the alternatives;
•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 client;
•The right to a copy of 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;
•The right to active and informed participation in the establishment, periodic review, and reassessment of the service plan.;
• The right to freedom from unnecessary or excessive medication, restraint, or seclusion;
•The right to participate in any appropriate and available agency service, regardless of refusal of one or more services, treatments or 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 client’s participation in other services. This necessity shall be explained to the client and written in the client’s current service plan;
•The right to be informed of and refuse any unusual or hazardous treatment procedures;
•The right to be advised of and refuse observation by techniques such as one-way mirrors, tape recorders, televisions, movies, or photographs;
•The right to have the opportunity to consult with independent treatment specialists or legal counsel, at one’s own expense;
•The right to confidentiality of communications of all personally identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of various funding and/or certifying sources, state or federal status, unless release of information is specially authorized by the client or parent or legal guardian of minor client or court appointed guardian of the person of an adult client in accordance with Rule 5122:2-3-11 of the Administrative Code;
•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 client for clear treatment reasons in the client’s treatment plan. “Clear treatment reasons” shall be understood to mean only severe emotional damage to the client such that dangerous or self-injurious behavior or an imminent risk. The person restricting the information shall explain to the client and other persons authorized by the client the factual information about the individual client that necessitates the restriction. The restriction must be renewed at least annually to retain validity. Any person authorized by the client has unrestricted access to all information. Clients shall be informed in writing of agency policies and procedures for viewing or obtaining copies of personal records;
•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 for that event;
•The right to receive an explanation of the reasons for denial of service;
•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, HIV infection, AIDS related complex, AIDS, developmental disability, or inability to pay;
•The right to know about the cost of services;
•The right to be fully informed of all rights;
•The right to exercise any and all rights without reprisal in any form including continued and uncompromised access to service;
•The right to file a grievance and to have oral and written instructions for filing a grievance;
•The right to reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations.
Grievance
•All grievances should be reported to the Client Rights Officer or designated staff.
•It is the responsibility of the Client Rights Officer to accept and oversee the process of any grievance filed by a client or other person or agency on behalf of the client
•The Client Rights Officer documents the complaint and investigates it.
•Ventures Academy will assist the griever in filing a grievance, if needed.
•The Client Rights Officer will explain the process to the griever from the original filing of the grievance to the final resolution.
•There is no time limit on filing a grievance.
• There will be reasonable opportunity for the griever and/or his/her designated representative to be heard by an impartial decision-maker.
•Ventures Academy investigates the grievance on behalf of the griever.
•Ventures Academy will represent the griever at the agency hearing, if desired by the griever.
•The griever will receive written notification and explanation of the resolution.
•Upon request, information about the grievance will be provided to one or more outside entities.
•Copies of the grievance procedure will be distributed upon request.
•If investigation does not resolve the issue, the Client Rights Officer will meet with the client in an attempt to come up with other solutions.
•If no resolution can be achieved, the client will be advised and referred to outside entities, i.e., Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Legal Rights, and/or other appropriate agencies.
•The grievance will be resolved as quickly as possible, but not to exceed 20 working days from the filing date.
•The Client Rights Officer for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio Ventures Academy is Renee Brinson.
•The hours of availability of the Client Rights Officer are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
•To reach the Client Rights Officer call 740.369.1175.
•If the Client Rights Officer is unavailable leave a message and your call will be returned within two working days.
•If Client Rights Officer, Renee Brinson is unavailable or the grievance is against or involving her, ESC Director of Center for Student ServicesLynn Brannon will provide coverage for these duties. She can be reached at 614.445.3750. Her office is located at 2080 Citygate Drive, Columbus, 43219. Her hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
•Every staff person, regardless of position, has a continuing responsibility to immediately advise any client or any other person who is articulating a concern, complaint, or grievance about the name and availability of the Client Rights Officer and the complainants right to file a grievance.
•The Client Rights Officer keeps all records regarding grievances received, the subject matter of the grievances, and the resolution of the grievances in a locked file in the Ventures Academy office.
•These records are available for review by the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and the Ohio Department of Mental Health upon request.
•Educational Service Center of Central Ohio Ventures Academy will submit quarterly notification to the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board regarding number of grievances received, types of grievances, and resolution status of grievances. In addition, an annual summary will be submitted to the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.