idealist.org

BECOME A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES


Volunteers needed to serve as members of the Human Rights Committee for North Suffolk Mental Health Association; a non-profit human services agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses.


The North Suffolk Human Rights Committee is a volunteer advisory board, which was established to ensure that the agency’s programs promote and protect the human and civil rights of all persons whom they serve. The committee holds meetings every other month on Wednesday evenings.


Responsibilities of the Committee:
• Review complaints and allegations of client mistreatment, harm or violation of an individual’s rights; file complaints as appropriate; and monitor the process used to investigate and resolve complaints.
• Monitor the use of limitations on an individual’s movement or potential limitations on human rights, including involuntary medication, restriction of privileges, house rules that limit individual rights, and limitations on use of an individual’s funds and other possessions.
• To monitor and review the authorization and use of behavior modification interventions proposed by the program staff.
• Review reports of the various quality management activities, to ensure that human rights issues raised through these mechanisms are addressed.
• Review and monitor the methods used by the programs to inform individuals and staff of human rights and associated policies and procedures.
• Review proposed and existing policies and practices, which are relevant to individual rights and make recommendations to the programs.
• Visit each program site annually.
• Provide guidance, and support to the program Human Rights Officers; receive reports of the activities of the Human Rights Officers; and ensure that the Human Rights Officers are carrying out their responsibilities.


Time Involvement:
The Human Rights Committee meets bi-monthly on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:00 – 8:30pm. Committee members also commit to a couple of hours one day per month to visit programs.

Great opportunity for grad students, professionals, friends and family members of individuals with disabilities or anyone interested in advocating for client rights!

Please contact Megan Adams, Human Rights Coordinator for additional information!

madams@northsuffolk.org
617-912-7986