State Mental Health Agency
For more information about admission, care, treatment, release, and
patient follow-up in public or private psychiatric residential
facilities, contact your State mental health agency:
Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Department of Health and Welfare
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Phone: 208-334-5528
Fax: 208-334-6699
Internet: www.state.id.us/dhw/hwgd_www/home.html
Street address for UPS and Federal Express delivery:
Bureau of MH & SA
450 West State Street, Seventh Floor
Boise, ID 83720
State Protection and Advocacy
Agency
Each State has a protection and advocacy agency that receives
funding from the Federal Center for Mental Health Services.
Agencies are mandated to protect and advocate for the rights of
people with mental illnesses and to investigate reports of abuse
and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with
mental illnesses. These facilities, which may be public or private,
include hospitals, nursing homes, community facilities, board and
care homes, homeless shelters, jails, and prisons. Agencies provide
advocacy services or conduct investigations to address issues that
arise during transportation or admission to such facilities, during
residency in them, or within 90 days after discharge from them.
Contact:
Comprehensive Advocacy, Inc.
4477 Emerald, Suite B-100
Boise, ID 83706
Phone: 208-336-5353 (V/TDD)
Fax: 208-336-5396
Toll-free: 800-632-5125
Health Care Financing Administration
The Health Care Financing Administration, which is part of the
Department of Health and Human Services, investigates some
complaints about treatment facilities that receive Medicare and
Medicaid funding. For further information at the national level,
contact:
Health Care Financing Administration
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Phone: 410-786-3000
E-mail:
webmaster@hcfa.gov
Internet: www.hcfa.gov
You may also share your concerns with staff at the Health Care Financing Administration office in your area, which is Region 10. The regional office address and telephone number are:
Seattle Regional Office
Health Care Financing Administration
2201 Sixth Avenue
Mail Stop RX 40
Seattle, WA 98121-2500
Phone: 206-615-2306
Fax: 206-615-2363
Internet: www.hcfa.gov
Advocacy Organizations The National Mental Health Association maintains a referral and information center and can help you locate local chapters. These local groups have information about community services and engage in national and state level advocacy. For more information about the association, write or call:
National Mental Health Association Information Center
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
Phone: 703-684-7722
Fax: 703-684-5968
Toll-free: 800-969-6642
TTY: 800-433-5959
E-mail: infoctr@nmha.org
Internet: www.nmha.org
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill maintains a helpline for information on mental illnesses and referrals to local groups. The local self-help groups have support and advocacy components and offer education and information about community services for families and individuals. For information about the Alliance's affiliates and activities in your State, contact:
NAMI Idaho
P.O. Box 68
Albion, ID 83311
Phone: 208-673-6672
Fax: 208-673-6685
E-mail:
namiid@atcnet.net
Internet: www.atcnet.net/~namiid/
The Federal of Families for Children's Mental Health is a national parent-run organization focused on the needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral or mental disorders and their families. They provide support and information on a wide range of issues and make referrals to local chapters. These local groups have support and advocacy components. For information about the Federation and the chapter in your State, contact:
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
1101 King Street, Suite 420
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone: 703 684-7710
Fax: 703-836-1040
E-mail: ffcmh@ffcmh.org
Internet: www.ffcmh.org
Statewide consumer organizations are run by and for consumers of mental health services and promote consumer empowerment. These organizations provide information about mental health and other support services at the State level and are active in addressing and advocating for mental health system issues. For information about consumer activities in your area, contact:
Jerry Fehlman, Chair
Consumer Advocacy Commission
Confluence Club
1002 Idaho Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
Phone: 208-746-1519
Other Sources of Information There are many sources of information that you can tap. Your area mental health authority, which is generally a part of the local government, may be useful. Other branches of your city or county government also may be able to help. For example, the education office might have information about help for children, and the agency for the aging might know about services for senior citizens. In addition, your family physician or area hospital may be able to make referrals. For legal advice, contact your local bar association. Also, your local library and telephone yellow pages may have resource lists for sources of help in your community.
3/2000
Back to the Index of State Mental Health Resources
These State resources were compiled by a U.S. Government agency - the Knowledge Exchange Network at http://www.mentalhealth.org .