Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI)

Individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness have the same rights and responsibilities as any other members of the community. Congress has recognized, however, that some individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness could be vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or discrimination in the exercise of their legal and civil rights because of the nature of their disability.

What is PAIMI?

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals labelled Mentally Ill Program (PAIMI) provides a resource for individuals who have been labeled with a serious mental illness. The program places a priority on serving persons with serious mental illness who live in facilities which provide some kind of care and treatment, however, PAIMI also serves individuals with serious mental illness who live in the community. PAIMI provides both legal and non-legal advocacy services on behalf of individuals or groups bringing complaints.

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc., (LSCNY) is under contract with the New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) to provide legal representation to eligible individuals in the central New York region. The central New York region includes: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.

What rights are defended?

PAIMI provides representation and advocacy in a wide range of areas, including, but not limited to:

• The right to protection from rights violations, such as financial exploitation, discrimination, unjustified denial of privacy or visitors, unjustified denial of public benefits and violation of informed consent rules.
• The right to be free from harm in residential care and treatment facilities.
• The right to be free from inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion.
• The right to access to health services, but traditional and alternative, in the least restrictive environment, and the right to make informed decisions concerning care and treatment.
• The right to benefit from legal standards in guardianship and civil commitment proceedings.

Who can contact us?

What services are available?

• Individual assistance: investigate and negotiate solutions to problems brought by individuals.
• Give legal advice and go to court, if necessary.
• Information and referral.
• Referral to other agencies, if possible, for individuals who are not PAIMI eligible.
• Technical assistance to attorneys or other advocates to make them more effective in representing individuals labelled mentally ill.
• Advocacy training and networking.

Does PAIMI serve everyone who is eligible?

Due to limited resources, PAIMI cannot serve every person who contacts us. Cases are accepted based on merit as well as available staff and resources.

Where are services available?

Information and referral services, as well as investigations of abuse and neglect are available through:

LSCNY Home Page

This page was last updated October 10, 2006.