Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 71.40 - Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy.
71.40.060 - Collaboration with department of social and health services.

RCW 71.40.060
Collaboration with department of social and health services.

(1) For state hospitals as defined in RCW 72.23.010, the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy shall work with the department of social and health services to:
(a) Establish specialized training for behavioral health consumer advocates to work with forensic and criminal justice involved populations at the state hospitals;
(b) Create procedures and protocols that ensure that behavioral health consumer advocates have access to all state hospital patients and their families or guardians as needed to perform their duties, including persons who are awaiting admission to the state hospitals while in jail;
(c) Establish guidelines for how the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy will work and collaborate with existing state employees who serve in an ombuds or advocate role for the state hospitals and ensure all legal requirements for these personnel are maintained; and
(d) Develop a direct reporting structure to the governor's office about any systemic issues that are discovered within the course of the advocates' duties within the state hospitals.
(2) The state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy shall complete this work in collaboration with the department of social and health services by July 1, 2023, and prior to the deployment of behavioral health consumer advocates within the state hospitals.
(3) The state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy shall make strong efforts to encourage individuals with lived experience specific to the state hospitals to undergo training to fulfill behavioral health consumer advocate positions at the state hospitals.

[ 2021 c 202 § 6.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington