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Mary Jones, LCMFT, LCAC

Consumer Information

Empowering Mental Health: Your Rights and Responsibilities at MHA

At Mental Health America of South Central Kansas (MHA), we’re dedicated to serving you with dignity and respect. Our roots in advocacy, planted by founder Clifford Beers, drive our commitment to your well-being. As you embark on your journey with us, it’s important to understand both your rights as a consumer and your responsibilities in the treatment process. Together, we’ll work towards achieving the quality of life that meets your unique needs.

Welcome

Our goal is to serve you in every way we can to help you live in our community with a quality of life that meets your needs. We are honored that you have sought our services and we will make every effort to meet your expectations. MHA has a long history of advocating for persons who experience a mental illness. Advocacy and education are at the very core of our purpose; we want to serve you in a manner that reflects the spirit of advocacy, as well as our commitment to service.

Clifford Beers, who founded Mental Health America in the early 1900’s, was both a person who experienced a severe mental illness and a leader who spoke up in support of more humane service. He understood the dignity of each individual and that person’s right to full community citizenship. Mental Health America was founded to spread those beliefs and practices across our land. Our organization has been pursuing those efforts in the Wichita area for over sixty years. We are proud of our achievements and the partnerships that have made our services possible. We are an affiliate of COMCARE, a member agency of United Way of the Plains and a chapter affiliate of the National Mental Health America. We work with those organizations and many others, including family and consumer groups.

You are our primary customer. The guidelines included in this booklet help identify the many different ways in which we provide services. Working together with you in a spirit of teamwork is our goal and will result in the most positive outcome.

Thank you for choosing MHA.

Sincerely,

Mary Jones, President & CEO

New Consumer Forms

To get started with services at MHA… Click the appropriate button below to complete the online forms or call our Client Access Team at 316-652-2590.

Children’s Services 4-17 Adult Services
Substance Use Treatment – All Ages

Consumer Guide

Please read the Consumer Guide to Services for more information about services provided by Mental Health America of South Central Kansas.

Consumer Guide

Consumer Information

Consumer Rights

You have the right to:

  • Ask for help and be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Be informed about your treatment/service and be told of any potential benefits/risks of treatment.
  • Help make decisions about your service, participate in the development and review of an individualized treatment plan and in planning for discharge.
  • Know how long you will be involved in treatment/service.
  • Receive treatment at convenient times and places.
  • Refuse treatment/service.
  • Ask for other treatment that may work for you.
  • Know the name of the person(s) providing your treatment and to request other staff be assigned to provide your treatment.
  • Be referred to another provider for service as needed.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Include other persons in your treatment.
  • Be told of any research or educational activities that are part of your treatment and to refuse to participate.
  • Have bills and charges explained.
  • Make a verbal or written complaint.
  • A safe environment and freedom from verbal, physical or financial abuse or exploitation or restraint/seclusion that is used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation.
  • Receive treatment in the least restrictive appropriate manner.
  • Be informed that there may be consequences for failing to comply with court ordered treatment.
  • See or request a copy of your clinical record in accordance with MHA policy.
  • Make healthcare decisions through advanced directives, living will, and durable power of attorney.
  • Express preference regarding choice of service providers.
  • Receive information about your managed care company.
  • Exercise these rights without adversely impacting treatment.
  • Obtain access to services within specified access standards.
  • Right to request a 2nd opinion.
Consumer Responsibilities

Consumer Responsibilities

You have the right to:

  • Provide information needed for treatment/service.
  • Plan your service with the assistance of treatment providers and follow the plan.
  • Let us know of special needs.
  • Keep and be on time for appointments and bring your insurance cards.
  • Arrange for care of your children while you are receiving services.
  • Let us know if you stop taking your medications or have problems with them.
  • Collaborate with your treatment provider to develop a crisis plan and work with provider to implement plan as needed.
  • Respect others confidentiality.
  • Let us know if your address, name, phone number or insurance information changes.
  • Work together with your treatment provider to create and use a crisis plan as needed.
  • Tell us of all insurances carried.
  • Let us know if you are unhappy with services
  • Let us know if you are not coming back
  • Pay us in a timely manner
  • Treat staff and consumers with respect
  • Maintain a safe environment by not possessing weapons or using intoxicating or illegal drugs while receiving services
  • Not come for services while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other substances.
  • Notify staff of any unsafe situations you observe
  • Not ask your treatment provider to purchase items for you out of their own funds
  • Ensure a healthy environment for MHA staff by not smoking in close proximity to the service provider.
Tobacco Free Campus

Tobacco Free Campus

  • As a health care provider, MHA is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for employees, consumers, and visitors and to promoting positive, healthy behaviors.
  • With this policy, we hope to:
  • Eliminate secondhand smoke so everyone on our campuses can breathe clean air
  • Demonstrate our commitment to improve the health of consumers, employees, and the community
  • Increase mental health providers involvement in treating nicotine addiction
  • Products Covered by the Policy
  • Tobacco products include, but are not limited to:
    • Cigarettes
    • Cigars
    • Chewing tobacco Pipe smoking
    • Dissolvable tobacco, including strips, sticks, orbs, and other new products
    • Electronic smoking or vaping devices
  • Physical Boundaries of the Policy
  • This policy shall apply to all indoor and outdoor spaces owned, leased or contracted by MHA, including:
    • Parking lots and driveways that are used by MHA
    • MHA vehicles
    • Vehicles on property that are owned, leased, or used by MHA
    • Adjoining sidewalks to MHA owned or leased property, extending 25 feet from MHA property
  • MHA is proud to offer Tobacco Cessation Services.
  • Call 316-685-1821 to get more information.