Council Membership Application  (Word Application Form  or PDF Application Form.)

 

Meetings

Upcoming meeting dates include:  Meeting notices will be posted as soon as available.  All meetings will be held in Richmond, VA..

Meeting Minutes (Click on this link to take you to Meeting Minutes.)

 

Council Member Description Purpose of the Advisory Council

The Federal PAIMI Act mandates that VOPA establish the PAIMI Advisory Council to:

1. Provide independent advice and recommendations to VOPA

2. Work jointly with the VOPA Governing Board of Directors in the development of policies and goals

3. Prepare and submit Council's annual report to federal funders

 

The PAIMI Advisory Council is VOPA's link to the community:

 

	Members are based in their own community.
	Members understand local attitudes and concerns
	Members offer perspectives from their community groups of important issues in Virginia
	Members evaluate VOPA's goals
	Members help VOPA remain focused on its Mission

 

Mission

 

The PAIMI Advisory Council's mission is to provide recommendations to the Governing Board of the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy on policies and goals to be implemented to assure that individuals, covered by the PAIMI Act, are free from abuse, neglect, and related rights violations.

 

Who We Are

 

The PAIMI Advisory Council is comprised of the following individuals all with a commitment to improve mental health services in Virginia:

 

	People who received or are receiving mental health services
	Family members
	Attorneys
	Mental health professionals
	Providers of mental health services
	Members of the public knowledgeable about mental illness
	At least one member who is a parent or guardian of a minor child who received or is receiving mental health services

 

Continuing efforts shall be made to include members of racial and ethnic minorities that are representative of the geographic diversity of Virginia.

 

What We Do

 

The PAIMI Advisory Council members' role is:

 

SUPPORT:  Be familiar with the purpose, philosophy, and activities of the PAIMI program and to positively represent the program to the community.

 

ADVISE:  Provide independent advice and recommendations for PAIMI programs.

 

LEADERSHIP:  Work jointly with VOPA staff and VOPA Board of Directors to develop effective policies and procedures

 

GUIDANCE:  Submit section of the annual Program Performance Report

 

Typical Duties and Expectations of Advisory Council Members

 

	To physically attend and actively participate in all scheduled PAIMI Advisory Council meetings.  Currently the PAIMI Advisory Council meets four times a year.  The PAIMI Advisory Council announces an annual calendar of meetings in advance.
	To read, review, and comment on materials mailed prior to each meeting for consideration at Advisory Council meetings.
	To promote information on the PAIMI Advisory Council; its position and publications when meeting other groups involved with mental illness.
	To provide advice, input, observations, and suggestions regarding VOPA's operations, activities, goals, and objectives with regards to PAIMI.
	Council members have the opportunity to participate in Board committees as full voting members.  Council members that serve on a Board committee should be committed to participation at the committee meetings.

 

Benefits of Being an Advisory Council Member

 

	Member and contributor of decision-making groups
	Opportunity to highlight programs that you support
	On-the-job training of political, administrative, technical, and bureaucratic aspects of decision-making
	Public speaking experience
	Cultivate contacts
	Potential source of alternate or advanced employment

 

Reimbursement for Expenses

 

PAIMI Advisory Council members volunteer their time they spend on Advisory Council activities.  However, members are reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses such as travel to and from meetings.

 

Accommodations

 

The PAIMI Advisory Council will meet in accessible locations.  The PAIMI Advisory Council can accommodate requests for reasonable accommodations.  Please contact VOPA staff for accommodations requests.

 

Council Members

Jackie Brown	Yvette Lane
Elaine Caudill	Ali Parker, Vice Chair
Van Johnson, Secretary	Sara Singhas
Sandra Musselwhite	Byron Stith
Michael Newcomb, Chair