Protecting and promoting the rights of recipients
Office of Recipient Rights
At Riverwood Center, we believe every person deserves to feel safe, respected, and heard. Our Recipient Rights team is dedicated to protecting your rights and supporting your well-being at every stage of your care.
We are here for you—advocating for your dignity and ensuring you receive the compassionate treatment you deserve.
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”.
Anyone may file a recipient rights complaint any time they believe their rights have been violated, or they wish to advocate on behalf of a recipient. You can make a rights complaint by telephone, letter, email, or on a Recipient Rights complaint form. If you don’t know which county to notify don’t worry, there is no wrong door for rights. The rights office will assist you locating the correct CMH, CCBHC, or Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Office of Recipient Rights. Please contact:
Anne Simpson, Rights Officer
rights@riverwoodcenter.org
Phone: 269-934-3326
Tasha Stewart, Rights Advisor
rights@riverwoodcenter.org
Phone: 269-934-3327
Recipient Rights General Email: rights@riverwoodcenter.org
If you need assistance with writing your complaint or have any questions, please know that any Riverwood Center staff member, your Case Manager, or the Recipient Rights Office is here to help!
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 substance use disorder services rights complaint, please contact:
Sarah Ameter, Customer Services Manager
Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health (SWMBH)
sarah.ameter@swmbh.org
Phone: 1-800-890-3712
Riverwood Recipient Rights Resources
• Riverwood Recipient Rights Complaint Form
• Consumer Bill of Rights & Responsibilities
• Incident Report Form (Fillable)
• Incident Reporting Guidelines
• Recipient Rights Active Policies & Procedures (Compressed Zip File)
• Recipient Rights Brochure
• Recipient Rights Check Authorization & Release Form
• Recipient Rights Complaint & Appeal Process Policy
• Recipient Rights Poster
• Recipient Rights Structure Policy
• Whistleblower Protection Act
Michigan Resources
• Michigan Rights Information Handbooks & Podcasts
• Requirements for Reporting Abuse & Neglect
• Michigan Mental Health Code Chapters 7 & 7A
• MDHHS Recipient Rights for Substance Abuse
• Download a MI Rights Complaint Form (English)
• Download a MI Rights Complaint Form (Arabic)
• Download a MI Rights Complaint Form (Spanish)
• Behavioral Health Mediation Services Card (English)
• Behavioral Health Mediation Services Card (Spanish)
• Behavioral Health Mediation Services Card (Arabic)
Riverwood Recipient Rights Training
Date: First Wednesday of each month
Time: Noon-2:00pm (depending on questions and technical issues)
Online Training Instructions & Expectations
New Hire Orientation Training Guide
*All participants must register in advance:
Online Registration
Ready to get started? Contact our Access team Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm.
24/7/365 Crisis Line: Call if you’re in emotional distress or having a behavioral health crisis.