PAIMI
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illnesses
The PAIMI program was created by federal law to safeguard and protect the rights of individuals with mental illnesses who are currently in care and treatment-providing facilities, or who have been discharged from a care and treatment-providing facility within the past 90 days.
Federal and state law has given Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services' PAIMI program broad authority to investigate and provide advocacy services for a variety of issues including:
- physical, sexual, or verbal abuse
- inappropriate or excessive use of chemical or bodily restraints
- failure to provide adequate discharge planning
- inappropriate mental health or medical treatment
- forced treatment without informed consent
- denial of services or treatment
- denial of due process
To be eligible for services in the PAIMI program, federal law requires that a person (1) have a significant mental illness or emotional impairment as determined by a mental health professional, and (2) currently reside or be an inpatient in a care or treatment-providing facility such as a mental health institute, public or private hospital, residential care facility, county care facility, group home, nursing home, homeless shelter, etc., or (3) have been discharged from a care and treatment-providing facility within the past 90 days. There are no income requirements or age limits to be eligible for services under the PAIMI Program. Services are free and statewide, as resources permit.