Advocating for our clients
rights is a fundamental part of Gilead's mission. Some of the more
visible forms of advocacy can be partnering staff and clients with
organizations such as NAMI (National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and CLRP
(The Connecticut Legal Rights Project). However, most of our advocacy
work is accomplished at the individual level, one-on-one. Case managers
routinely advocate for the rights of clients in housing issues.
Psychiatric disabilities fall under the rubric of the ADA (Americans
with Disabilities Act) and therefore can not be overtly or covertly
discriminated against per Federal law. Did you know that we have
successfully advocated for the rights of clients to have a pet in
their apartment for therapeutic purposes? We always try to come
up with a win-win solution for clients and their landlords, sometimes
agreeing to put up an extra security deposit if the client wants
and needs a pet.
 Another
form of advocacy work is teaching clients to advocate for themselves
politically. Many of our Gilead clients and staff are well known
at the Capitol. We have written hundreds of letters and emails to
our Senators and Representatives advocating for or against legislation.
We have made thousands of phone calls doing the same. We have hosted Legislative Breakfasts for our local legislators. We have written
editorials and had newspaper articles published about our unique concerns.
Throughout this process clients have gained more and more knowledge
and have been successful at exercising more influence in Hartford.
For the future, our advocacy work will focus additionally on the
local community as we attempt to effect change in the reintegration
process for our clients. This challenge will require novel and creative
ways for people with psychiatric disabilities to become more known
and accepted in their neighborhoods.
The combination of new medications that lack the visible side effects
of the older medications and the movement toward a "sustained
recovery" model of care in the mental health system will increase
the chance for every one of our clients to at some point successfully
reintegrate into their communities with only an occasional need
for services.
Working towards that goal requires advocacy work at all levels of
our organization, and Gilead is very committed to working with our
clients to achieve this goal.
Advocacy Links:
Connecticut Association of
Nonprofits (CAN)
Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.
Connecticut Community Providers
Association (CCPA)
Gilead Community Services Client Rights:
Gilead Community Services’ staff strive to uphold the rights & privacy of clients at all times while providing the best possible clinical treatment. Client Rights & Responsibilities are reviewed with all clients on admission to Gilead, posted in each program, and reviewed annually.
Client Rights & Responsibilities for Clients in DMHAS funded programs
Client Rights and Responsibilities for Clients in Non-DMHAS funded programs
However, if at any time a client or conservator of person has a complaint regarding a client’s care or feels that the client’s privacy or other rights have been violated, they are encouraged to follow Gilead’s Problem Resolution procedure in an attempt to resolve their concerns as quickly and effectively as possible.
Client Problem Resolution Procedure Acknowledgement Form for Clients in Non-DMHAS funded programs
For Clients that are enrolled in any of Gilead’s DMHAS-funded programs, the client/conservator of person also has the right to file a formal grievance (regarding rights violations) with the Client Rights & Privacy Officer at any time. No client shall be subject to any retaliation or barriers to services as a result of filing a complaint.
Client Problem Resolution & Grievance Procedure Acknowledgement Form for Clients in DMHAS funded programs
Gilead’s Client Rights & Privacy Officer: Rob Snyder (860-343-5300 ext.15)
Complaint / Grievance Form
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