Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Mental Health and Mental Retardation issues in Pennsylvania.
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The Many Doors to Consumer Empowerment - A Guide to Advocacy for Mental Health Consumers in Pennsylvania
This guide was created by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project to help people in Pennsylvania who are dealing with mental illness learn about the mental health system and when, where, and how you can shape it -- if you choose to. [PDF] Content Detail
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Advocating for Behavioral Health Services for your Child
Tips from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on how to be a good advocate in working to secure Behavioral Health Services for your child. [PDF] Content Detail
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Accessing Behavioral Health Services for your Child: The Team (ISPT) Meeting
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on ISPT Meetings and how to prepare for one. [PDF] Content Detail
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Getting Medical Assistance for a Child (under 18) with a Severe Disability, Behavioral or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Information on whether a child with a severe disability qualifies for Medical Assistance and how to prove it. Content Detail
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Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Programs: A Manual for Consumers and Advocates in Southwestern PA
This manual from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project focuses on the Waiver programs currently available in Southwestern PA to adults with physical, sensory, and/or developmental disabilities; however, basic information about the various Waivers applies statewide. The intent of this manual is to help consumers, family members, providers, and advocates understand the various options available and help them navigate the system (from applying to the programs to actually accessing services under a Waiver). [PDF] Content Detail
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Standards for Disability for a Child with Mental Illness or Bio-Neurological Disorder
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on the disablitiy standards that must be met by a child to qualify for medical assistance. [PDF] Content Detail
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The Psychological Evaluation
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on what to look for in a comprehensive psychological evaluation. [PDF] Content Detail
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Understanding "Wraparound" Services for Children in HealthChoices
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on "Wraparound" Services, also referred to as Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services, for Children from your Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization. These are individualized mental health services provided in the home, school, or community to help keep a child at home. [PDF] Content Detail
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Mental Health Resources
List of resources form the Pennsylvania Health Law Project that are available for obtaining mental health treatment. Content Detail
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How to Obtain Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services in Pennsylvania
Booklet from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explaining how to obtain Mental Health Services and Drug & Alcohol Services under various programs in Pennsylvania. [PDF] Content Detail
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Mental Health Care Advance Directive
A Mental Health Advance Directive is a document that allows you to make your choices known regarding mental health treatment in the event that your mental illness makes you unable to make decisions. This packet provides information and forms to allow you to prepare documents to fit you needs regarding an advance directive. [PDF] Content Detail
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Medicaid Waivers for People with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism
Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance (“Medicaid”) program includes home and community-based services waivers “HCBS Waivers”) that fund a variety of services enabling eligible individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or autism to live in their own homes and communities. The purpose of this Fact Sheet is to provide an overview of Medicaid HCBS Waivers generally and the HCBS Waivers in Pennsylvania that offer services to people with ID and/or autism. [PDF] Content Detail
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Consent, Capacity and Substitute Decision-Making (PDF)
This manual provides people with disabilities, their family members, service providers, and others with information about the important issues related to decision-making and preserving people's right to make decisions for oneself to the maximum extent possible. [PDF] Content Detail
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Estate Planning/Substitute Decision-Making/Guardianship Resources
Resources from Disability Rights Pennsylvania on options for persons with disabilities for Estate Planning and Decision Making. [PDF] Content Detail
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Fact Sheet for Consumers - If Your Residential Mental Health Services are Terminated
This Fact Street addresses the rights of adults with mental illness who received notices of termination of services from their residential program providers. Content Detail
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