Advisory Council Application

Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) is a private, non-profit agency that works to advocate and protect the legal rights of people with disabilities. One of the several federal acts which gives DRM its authority is the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (42 U.S.C. 10801 et seq.), the “PAIMI Act”. The PAIMI Act requires DRM to have an Advisory Council to advise DRM on issues affecting the lives of adults and children with mental illness.

The PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC) provides advice to the Board, and it is responsible for completing specific sections of the annual Program Progress Report (PPR).

PAC members are people from different backgrounds who are interested in protecting the rights of people who are eligible as defined in the PAIMI Act. Sixty percent (60%) of the PAC membership must be people who have had or currently have a mental illness or are family members of an individual with a mental illness who is a current or former recipient of mental health services.

The PAC meets approximately four times per year, and members are reimbursed for their travel, meals, childcare and other expenses related to their PAC work. The reimbursement policy follows that of the DRM Board of Directors.

As required under the agency's IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organization Status Form 990 filings, the names of members of the DRM PAC become public record. These documents are available to the public from DRM or from the IRS.

Your agreement to this disclosure is required in order to be considered eligible for DRM PAC membership.

The following information is used strictly for statistical reporting requirements and/or to allow DRM to monitor its efforts to be inclusive of people from diverse backgrounds. DRM does not discriminate based on Race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, or sexual preference. We have an affirmative action policy that encourages participation from people from diverse backgrounds.

Federal law requires that the PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC) include people with a variety of experiences with mental illness.

The PAC must also try to be as diverse as the people in the state of Michigan. To help the Council members appoint new members that represent a diverse spectrum.

As a PAC member, I would regularly attend PAC meetings, offer advice on policies, work with the DRM Board and staff to jointly establish and evaluate priorities, and help strengthen the working relationship between DRM and the group(s) I represent.