Ohio's Board History
1967
Bill 648
This bill ensured that mental health services were available throughout Ohio.
1988
Mental Health Act
This act expanded the roles and responsibilities of the Boards.
1989
House Bill 317
The passing of this bill added the alcohol and drug addiction responsibilities to most Boards.
Our Mission, Vision, & Values
Mission
The Washington County Behavioral Health Board serves the residents of Washington County by providing a unified system of mental health and alcohol and drug addiction services by planning, maintaining and reviewing mental health and addiction programs, coordinating services among contract providers, cultivating dialog between the Board, consumers, and the community, and pursuing local financial support to supplement state and federal funding.
Vision
Our organization and the public and private agencies we fund seek to provide high quality, evidence-based programs.
Values
We embrace successful results and outcomes, quality planning and delivery of cost-effective services, mutually satisfying partnerships with consumers and their families, productive interaction with the larger community, and ready access for residents of Washington County to a program which properly distributes efforts toward prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery.
Our Responsibilities
Establish
a unified system of treatment for mentally ill persons and persons with addictions.
Protect
the personal liberty and rights of mentally ill persons so that they may be treated in the least restrictive environment.
Encourage
the development of high quality, cost effective, culturally sensitive services and delivery.
Promote
Community awareness of and participation in mental health and substance use programs.
Administer
the county hub program designed to strengthen efforts to prevent and treat opioid addiction.
Client's Rights and Grievance
Client rights are guaranteed by State law, and the WCBHB has specific roles and responsibilities in client rights and grievance procedures as regulated by State law.
Each client has the following rights:
- The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy and privacy.
- The right to reasonable protection from physical, sexual or emotional abuse and inhumane treatment.
- The right to give informed consent to or to refuse any service.
- The right to be free from restraint or seclusion unless there is immediate risk of physical harm to self or others.
- The right to be informed and the right to refuse any unusual or hazardous procedures.
- The right to be advised and the right to refuse observation by others and by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recorders, video recorders, television, movies, photographs or other audio and visual technology. This right does not prohibit an agency from using closed-circuit monitoring to observe seclusion rooms or common areas, which does not include bathrooms or sleeping areas.
- The right to confidentiality of communications and personal identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of client information under state and federal laws and regulations.
- The right to have access to one’s own client record.
- The right to be informed of the reason for terminating participation in a service.
- The right to be informed of the reason for denial of a service.
- The right not to be discriminated against for receiving services on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, genetic information, human immunodeficiency virus status, or in any manner prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
- The right to know the cost of services.
- The right to be verbally informed of all client rights, and to receive a written copy upon request.
- The right to exercise one’s own rights without reprisal, except that no right extends so far as to supersede health and safety considerations.
- The right to file a grievance.
- The right to have oral and written instructions concerning the procedure for filing a grievance, and to assistance in filing a grievance if requested.
- The right to be informed of one’s own condition.
- The right to consult with an independent treatment specialist or legal counsel at one’s own expense.
If a client feels their rights have been violated they have the right to file a grievance.