Disability Rights Ohio is Ohio's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy System for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI). The federal mandate requires the establishment of an advisory council. The PAIMI Advisory Council advises Disability Rights Ohio on priorities and issues important to people receiving mental health services in Ohio, and promotes recovery through increased access to client rights and advocacy services.
What does the PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC) do?
- Advises Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) on priorities and issues important to people receiving mental health services, and helps set DRO’s annual goals and objectives
- Receives updates on, and advises DRO on, legislation regarding mental health issues at the state level. When necessary, PAC members may personally choose to engage in advocacy.
- Participates in, and hosts, trainings to further knowledge and develop skills
- Meets as a full group four times a year, and in smaller committees in between the full council meetings
What are the benefits of serving on the council?
- Strengthen your voice and share your expertise regarding the mental health field
- Get involved in statewide advocacy issues
- Influence and help to shape DRO’s work on PAIMI-related issues
- Collaborate with and learn from individual advocates across the state
- Help spread awareness about resources for individuals with mental illness in your community
- Help increase awareness about Disability Rights Ohio
Who serves on the PAC?
The PAIMI Advisory Council seeks members from all areas of Ohio with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Anyone who is a resident of Ohio can be a member of the PAIMI Advisory Council. At least 60% of the PAIMI Advisory Council members must be individuals with mental illness or family members of individuals with mental illness. The PAIMI Advisory Council Chair is always an individual with lived life experience, although they may also be a family member of an individual with lived experience.
The PAIMI Advisory Council is required to have at least one representative from the following:
- People who have received mental health services
- A parent of a minor child who has received mental health services
- Attorney
- Mental Health Professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse)
- Mental Health Service Provider
- Other professionals, friends, advocates and members of the general public who have demonstrated substantial commitment to improving mental health services and who have knowledge about people who are labeled as mentally ill
Meet our current council members here.
Fiscal Year 2025 Meeting Schedule
- Qt. 1 – Saturday, December 14, 2024
Qt. 2 – Saturday, April 5, 2025
Qt. 3 – Saturday, June 28, 2025
Qt. 4 – Saturday, September 13, 2025 (Joint Meeting with DRO Board of Directors)
Read more about PAC
Below are several documents that provide more information as to PAC’s role, philosophy, inner workings, and more.
Interested in becoming a PAIMI Advisory Council member?
Our council continuously accepts applications to fill open seats that become vacant throughout the year.
PAIMI Advisory Council is dedicated to ensuring our membership is diverse and representative of the state of Ohio. As part of that goal, we seek to include members from all regions of the state. We are hoping to expand our reach and encourage people from additional counties to apply. PAIMI Advisory Council is also committed to expending the cultural diversity of our membership including gender, race, ethnicity, age, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, veteran status, religion, and national origin.
All submitted applications are held until December 31 of the year in which they were submitted and are reviewed each time a seat becomes available during the calendar year. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the calendar year. Only complete applications with recommendations are able to be considered for appointment.
To apply to become a PAIMI Advisory Council member:
Complete an online application form; or
Download a PDF version of the application form and fax or mail the form to Disability Rights Ohio:
Disability Rights Ohio
200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 300
Columbus, OH 43215
Fax: 614-644-1888
Questions? Call Disability Rights Ohio at 1-800-282-9181.