Self Determination and Person/Family Centered Planning

Focusing on What People Can Do

Listening Ear was founded in 1969 as a community based crisis center guided by the principle of self-determination and self-help. From our grass roots with the crisis center to the variety of consumers we support today, self determination and self-help has always been the guiding principles.

Direct support staff and professionals throughout Listening Ear are trained in Person and Family Centered Planning, where we focus on the individual’s freedom to develop their own plan. At times the judicial system may order treatment, however, we have learned to build on these orders to facilitate your goals and plans. In most cases the consumer has the authority to control their life and relevant resources like where they  live, work and socialize. Listening Ear is there to be a partner in supporting the consumer’s goals, dreams and future in order for the consumer to be and continue to be a contributing and responsible member of the community. Throughout Listening Ear, we remember that it is your life and you are in charge.

CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

Listening Ear consumers have the right to:

• informed consent and know the purpose, risks and benefits of service, the limits of service and choices regarding services;
• complain and have a means to do so;
• cultural sensitivity, religious freedom and the right not to be discriminated against;
• be treated with dignity and respect;
• be safe and free from exploitation;
• privacy and confidentiality;
• participate in the development of their plan and have a right to self determination;
• decline service;
• have access to one’s own case record;
• be served by competent professionals;
• integrity;
• have one’s own welfare put first;
• be told about any time delays, interruptions, changes or termination of services;
• be told about consumer rules, expectations and responsibilities;
• special accommodations, if needed;
• personal property;
• exercise constitutional rights including the right to vote;
• freedom of movement;
• services in a clean and safe environment;
• be paid for work performed other than personal housekeeping;
• freedom of association, visitors and communications.

AND

All rights stated in the Adult Foster Care Small Group Home Rule 304 on Resident Rights, R400.14303

Website Privacy Policy

This is how we handle information we learn about you from your visit to our website. The information we receive depends on what you do when you visit our site.

If you visit our site to browse, or to read information:

We have the ability to collect and store: the domain and host from which you access the Internet; the Internet protocol (IP) address of the computer you are using; the browser software you use and your operating system; the date and time you access our site; and the Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our site;

We use this information to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of our site, and to help us make our site more useful. Generally, we delete this information after one year.

We do not use “cookies” on this site.

If you choose to identify yourself by sending us an email:

You have a right to privacy and confidentiality. In addition, we do not sell or share names or e-mail addresses. If you send us an email, you should know that email is not necessarily secure against interception. So, if your communication includes sensitive information and you prefer not to use email, contact us by postal mail or telephone rather than email.

Crisis Center, Inc. d.b.a
Listening Ear Crisis Center
HIPAA PRIVACY NOTICE
Effective April 14, 2003

This notice describes how personal and medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Understanding the Type of Information We Have
We get information about you when you when you come to us for service. It may include your date of birth, sex, ID number and other personal information. We may also get bills, reports from your doctor and other data about your physical and mental health.

Our Privacy Commitment to You

We care about your privacy. The information we collect about you is private and is protected by two laws: the Michigan Mental Health Code and the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We are required to give you a notice of our privacy practices. Only people who have both the need and the legal right may see your information. Unless you give us permission in writing, we will only disclose your information for purpose of treatment, payment, business operations or when we are required by law to do so.

• Treatment: We may disclose health information about you to coordinate or provide your health care. For example, we may disclose medical information to doctors, nurses, case manager/support coordinators and other personnel who are involved in providing you treatment.
• Payment: We may use and disclose information so the services received from our agency can be properly billed and paid for.
• Business Operations: We may need to use and disclose information for our business operations. For example, we may use information to review the quality of care you get, or to conduct cost management and business planning activities for our Agency.
• To Business Associates: We may share your health information with “business associates” that perform services for us such as attorneys. The contracts we have with them identify terms that safeguard your health information.
• To Others Involved: in your Healthcare Unless you object, we may disclose to a family member, a relative, a close friend, or any other person that you identify, your health information that directly relates to that person’s involvement in our care or payment related to your care.
• To the Recipient: If a valid authorization is provided, we may use and disclose your health information to you, your guardian, the parent with legal custody of a minor recipient, or the court appointed personal representative or executor of the estate of a deceased recipient, unless in the written judgment of our agency the disclosure would be detrimental to the recipient or others.
• As Required by Law: We will release information when we are required by law to do so. For example, disclosure may be required by Workers” Compensation statutes or various public health statutes in connection with required reporting of certain diseases, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, adverse drug reactions, etc, or when asked to do so by a law enforcement official or government official.
• With your Permission: If you give us permission in writing, we may use and disclose your personal information. If you give us permission, you have the right to revoke it. This must be in writing too. We cannot take back any uses or disclosures already made with your permission.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

You have the following rights regarding the health information that we have about you. Your requests must be made in writing to Privacy Officer, Crisis Center, Inc. d.b.a. Listening Ear Crisis Center at the address below.

• Your Right to Inspect and Copy
  In most cases, you have the right to look at or get copies of your records. You may be charged a fee for the cost of copying your records.
• Your Right to Amend
  You may ask us to change your records. If you feel there is a mistake, you have the right to add a statement. We can deny your request for certain reasons, but we must give you a written reason for our denial.
• Your Rights to an Accounting of Disclosure
• You have the right to ask for a list of disclosures made after April 14, 2003. This list will not include the times that information was disclosed for treatment, payment, or health care operations. The list will not include information provided directly to you or your family or information that was sent with your authorization. You may be charged a fee for the cost of copying.
• Your Right to Request Restrictions on Our Use or Disclosure of Information
• You have the right to ask for limits on how your information is used or disclosed. In some programs we are not required to agree to such request.
• Your Right to Request Confidential Communications
• You have the right to ask that we share information with you in a certain way or in a certain place.
  For example, you may ask us to send information to your work address instead of your home address. You do not have to explain the basis for your request. We will attempt to honor your request.

HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM PRIVACY NOTICE

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to revise this notice. A revised notice will be effective for health information we already have about you as well as any information we may receive in the future. We are required by law to comply with whatever notice is currently in effect. Any changes to our notice will be available at our offices. You may call or stop by to receive a revised one.

FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING

On occasion your name and address may be added to our marketing list to receive our newsletter and/or fundraising materials. Please write us if you wish to have your name removed from the list.

HOW TO USE YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THIS NOTICE

If you want to use your rights under this notice, you may call us or write to us. We can help you prepare your request if you wish.

• Complaints to the Federal Government

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the federal government. You may write to:

Office of Civil Rights
Dept. of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 866-627-7748
TTY: 886-788-4989
Email: [email protected]

You will not be penalized for filing a complaint with the federal government.

• Complaints and Communications to Us

If you want to exercise your rights under this notice or if you wish to communicate with us about privacy issues or if you wish to file a complaint, you may write to:

Send complaints and/or communications to:

Privacy Officer
Crisis Center, Inc., d.b.a
Listening Ear Crisis Center
107 E. Illinois Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: 989-772-2918
[email protected]

You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

COPIES OF THIS NOTICE

You have the right to receive an additional copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice. Please call or write to us to request a copy.

This notice is available in other languages and alternate formats that meet the guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).