The PAIMI regulations require the PAIMI program to have an advisory council to “advise the system on policies and priorities to be carried out in protecting and advocating the rights of individuals with mental illness.” Disability Rights California’s PAIMI Advisory Council advises the Board and staff about issues in the mental health community

The Council is comprised of individuals who are or who have been consumers of mental health services, family members, attorneys, mental health providers, mental health professionals, individuals from the public who are knowledgeable about mental illness, and providers of mental health services. The PAC is involved in DRC’s annual priority setting process in getting comments from the community and in providing recommendations to the Board.

PAIMI Advisory Council Members

• Imari Kariotis (PAIMI Advisory Council Chair)
• Deaka McClain
• Jeff Thom
• Jillian Parramore
• Katherine Perez
• Roque Bucton (Public Member)
• Sarah Price Hancock (Public Member)

Join Our PAIMI Advisory Council

Help us create a barrier-free, inclusive, diverse world where Californians with disabilities enjoy equal rights, dignity, choice, independence and freedom from abuse, neglect and discrimination.

Fill out the online application https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/post/paimi-advisory-council-as-a-public-member-online-form or see below for more options.

What does DRC’s PAIMI Advisory Council do?

The PAIMI Council is a federally required Council, responsible for providing oversight to the services DRC provides under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act.

DRC’s PAC members come from around the state. They educate our board and staff about issues facing people with mental health disabilities in California. They also help inform and involve the community in DRC’s mental health advocacy work.

DRC’s PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC) advises our board and staff about issues in the mental health community. Their important work includes helping to shape our mental health advocacy plans and participating in the planning of our annual goals and priorities. PAC members play a vital role, bringing information from the mental health community to DRC, and from DRC to the mental health community. They also file a federally required annual report that describes and evaluates our mental health advocacy activities and effectiveness.

Who is eligible to apply?

Persons with mental illness, family members and professionals are all represented on the Council. The PAIMI Advisory Council is also committed to appointing members representative of California’s diverse ethnic and cultural communities and makes efforts to ensure the Council reflects different geographic areas of the state. 

At least Sixty percent of the PAC members must be people who have received or are receiving mental health services, or their family members. Additionally, each PAC must be led by a person who has received or is receiving mental health services, or who is a family member. In order to be eligible for membership on the Advisory Council, an individual must reside in the State of California, cannot be a relative or significant other of a current Advisory Council member, and cannot be an employee of DRC.

The PAIMI Act Requires that:

• At least 60% of the membership of the Advisory Council be comprised of people or family members of people who have received or are receiving mental health services.
• The Advisory Council be chaired by person or a family member of a person who has received or is receiving mental health services.
• The Advisory Council Chair have a seat on the P&A Governing Board.
• The Advisory Council Chair must meet no less than three times a year.

Subject to these limitations, the Advisory Council shall consist of:

• At least one (1) attorney
• Mental Health Services Professional
• Individuals from the public who are knowledgeable about people who are labeled mentally ill, the advocacy needs of persons with mental illness, and have demonstrated a substantial commitment to improving mental health services
• Mental Health Service Provider
• Peer Support Specialist
• Individuals who have received or are receiving mental health services
• Individuals who are family members of individuals who have received or are receiving mental health services.
• At least one member shall be a primary caregiver of a minor child or youth (under 18 years old) who has received or is receiving mental health services.

To view PAIMI Advisory Council Roles & Responsibilities, The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) put their training document online here:

You may apply online, or by emailing or faxing your letter of interest and references.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the online application or email a letter of interest and references to rayann.smith@disabilityrightsca.org or fax to (916) 504-5810.

The letter should include your contact information and answer the following questions:

1. Why do you want to participate on the PAIMI Advisory Council?
2. What will you bring to the PAIMI Advisory Council?
3. What is your vision for the PAIMI Advisory Council?
4. Describe your advocacy experience (advocating for oneself, a family member, or others).
5. Describe your involvement on committees, organizations, conference/trainings, etc. that address mental health issues. Please include the names of committees, organizations, etc.
6. Describe your educational background, current employment and/or other volunteer activities.
7. List at least two references.  Please include the name, telephone number and email address for each reference. Additionally, please list if you have a relative who is a DRC staff member or on DRC’s Board of Directors.
8. Our PAIMI Council values diversity. To assist the Committee in selecting diverse Council members, please identify which of the following group(s) you belong to: Decline to State, African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, White, Multi-racial; Developmental Disability, Psychiatric Disability, Learning Disability, Sensory Disability, Physical Disability, Other Disability; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender.
9. For PAC Eligibility, please answer the following:
   1. Are you a current or former Mental Health Services Professional?
   2. Are you a current or former Mental Health Service Provider?
   3. Are you a Peer Support Specialist?
   4. Are you an Attorney?
   5. Are you an individual from the public knowledgeable about mental illness?
   6. Are you the primary caregiver of a minor child or youth (under 18 years old) who has received or is receiving mental health services?

PAIMI ASSURANCE GRIEVANCE

Disability Rights California is required to establish a grievance procedure for individuals who have received or are receiving mental health services, or family members or representatives of such individuals to assure that we are operating in compliance with requirements under the program that serves individuals with mental health disabilities (i.e. the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act or PAIMI Act).