Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 71.40 - Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy.
71.40.040 - Duties of office.

RCW 71.40.040
Duties of office.

The state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy shall assure performance of the following activities, as authorized in contract:
(1) Selection of a name for the contracting advocacy organization to use for the advocacy program that it operates pursuant to contract with the office. The name must be selected by the statewide advisory council established in this section and must be separate and distinguishable from that of the office;
(2) Certification of behavioral health consumer advocates by October 1, 2022, and coordination of the activities of the behavioral health consumer advocates throughout the state according to standards adopted by the office;
(3) Provision of training regarding appropriate access by behavioral health consumer advocates to behavioral health providers or facilities according to standards adopted by the office;
(4) Establishment of a toll-free telephone number, website, and other appropriate technology to facilitate access to contracting advocacy organization services for patients, residents, and clients of behavioral health providers or facilities;
(5) Establishment of a statewide uniform reporting system to collect and analyze data relating to complaints and conditions provided by behavioral health providers or facilities for the purpose of identifying and resolving significant problems, with permission to submit the data to all appropriate state agencies on a regular basis;
(6) Establishment of procedures consistent with the standards adopted by the office to protect the confidentiality of the office's records, including the records of patients, residents, clients, providers, and complainants;
(7) Establishment of a statewide advisory council, a majority of which must be composed of people with lived experience, that shall include:
(a) Individuals with a history of mental illness including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;
(b) Individuals with a history of substance use disorder including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;
(c) Family members of individuals with behavioral health needs including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;
(d) One or more representatives of an organization representing consumers of behavioral health services;
(e) Representatives of behavioral health providers and facilities, including representatives of facilities offering inpatient and residential behavioral health services;
(f) One or more certified peer specialists;
(g) One or more medical clinicians serving individuals with behavioral health needs;
(h) One or more nonmedical providers serving individuals with behavioral health needs;
(i) One representative from a behavioral health administrative services organization;
(j) Two parents or caregivers of a child who received behavioral health services, including one parent or caregiver of a child who received complex, multisystem behavioral health services, one parent or caregiver of a child ages one through 12, or one parent or caregiver of a child ages 13 through 17;
(k) Two representatives of medicaid managed care organizations, one of which must provide managed care to children and youth receiving child welfare services;
(l) Other community representatives, as determined by the office; and
(m) One representative from a labor union representing workers who work in settings serving individuals with behavioral health conditions;
(8) Monitoring the development of and recommend improvements in the implementation of federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies with respect to the provision of behavioral health services in the state and advocate for consumers;
(9) Development and delivery of educational programs and information statewide to patients, residents, and clients of behavioral health providers or facilities, and their families on topics including, but not limited to, the execution of mental health advance directives, wellness recovery action plans, crisis services and contacts, peer services and supports, family advocacy and rights, family-initiated treatment and other behavioral health service options for minors, and involuntary treatment; and
(10) Reporting to the office, the legislature, and all appropriate public agencies regarding the quality of services, complaints, problems for individuals receiving services from behavioral health providers or facilities, and any recommendations for improved services for behavioral health consumers.

[ 2022 c 134 § 4; 2021 c 202 § 4.]