Your recipient Rights

Every person who receives services in the public mental health system has additional rights. Those rights, specific to mental health and intellectual/developmental disability services, are identified in the Michigan Mental Health Code.

Your rights include:

  • The right to be free from abuse and neglect

  • The right to privacy of your information

  • The right to be treated with dignity and respect

  • The right to receive services that meet your needs

  • The right to receive your services in a safe, sanitary, and humane environment

You have many other rights specific to your mental health services. More information about your rights is contained in the booklet titled “Your Rights When Receiving Mental Health Services in Michigan”. You can learn more about rights by reading the rights booklet or by contacting a Riverwood Center Recipient Rights Office representative.

If you believe your rights have been violated, or you wish to advocate on behalf of a recipient, you may submit a written complaint on a Recipient Rights Complaint form 
(NOTE: please download the form to your computer or device before attempting to complete it). Please get in touch with us if you need help writing your complaint. Submit the completed complaint to the Recipient Rights Office by email, fax, or US mail.

What to Expect After Submitting a Complaint

A letter to let you know that we received your complaint will be mailed to you within five business days from the date we received the complaint. The letter will let you know what will happen with your complaint.

When the Rights Office completes an investigation about a possible rights violation, the Rights Officer will talk with the person who filed the complaint, the person whose rights might have been violated, and anyone else who might have information about the violation. The Rights Officer will also look at the clinical record.

Within 90 days the investigation will be completed and the complainant (person who filed the complaint) and the person whose rights might have been violated (if different than the person who filed the complaint) will receive a letter with information on the outcome of the investigation.

 Contact your rights department

Recipient Rights Office representatives are available 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Messages/emails to the Rights Office are usually answered within one business day. Rights contact information is listed below.

Anne Simpson | Recipient Rights Officer | (269) 934-3326

Tasha Stewart | Recipient Rights Advisor | (269) 934-3327

​If you receive Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, you have rights protected by the Public Health Code. These rights will also be explained to you when you start services and then once again every year.  If you have a SUD rights complaint, contact Sarah Ameter at (800) 890-3712 or sarah.ameter@swmbh.org.