Advocacy Resources and Information
State of Delaware Mental Health Agencies
For more information about admission, care, treatment, release, and patient follow-up in public or private psychiatric residential facilities, contact your State mental health agencies:
For Children Services:
Division of Child Mental Health Services Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families
1825 Faulkland Road
Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: 302-633-2573 Fax: 302-633-2614
Website:http://kids.delaware.gov/cmhs/cmhs.shtml
For Adult Services:
Division of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Mental Health
Department of Health and Social Services
1901 North Dupont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: 302-577-4460 Fax: 302-577-4484
Website:http://www.state.de.us/dhss/
State Protection and Advocacy Agency
Each State has a protection and advocacy agency that receives funding from the Federal Center for Mental Health Services. Agencies are mandated to protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illnesses and to investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illnesses. These facilities, which may be public or private, include hospitals, nursing homes, community facilities, board and care homes, homeless shelters, jails, and prisons. Agencies provide advocacy services or conduct investigations to address issues that arise during transportation or admission to such facilities, during residency in them, or within 90 days after discharge from them.
Delaware
Brian J. Hartman, Director
Disabilities Law Program
913 Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-575-0660 Fax: 302-575-0840
Other Advocacy Organizations or Services
Statewide consumer organizations are run by and for consumers of mental health services and promote consumer empowerment. These organizations provide information about mental health and other support services at the State level and are active in addressing and advocating for mental health system issues. For information about consumer activities in your area, contact:
Mental Health Association
The national and local Mental Health Associations provide information on mental health
issues, information about community services and advocate for improved services.
National Mental Health Association Information Center
1021 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
Phone: 703-684-7722 Fax: 703-684-5968
Toll-free: 800-969-6642 TTY: 800-433-5959
Website: www.nmha.orgMental Health Association in Delaware
812 D Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809
Phone: 302-765-9740 Fax: 302-765-9745
Website: www.mhainde.org
Email: information@mhainde.org
Alliance for the Mentally Ill
The national and local organizations provide information on mental illness, community
services, support groups and advocacy components.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Telephone: 703-524-7600 Fax: 703-524-9094
Toll-free: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Website:www.nami.orgDelaware Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMID)
500 West Fourth Street, Suite 5, Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: 302-427-0787 Fax: 302-427-2075
Toll-free: 888-427-2643 (Statewide)
Email: alliance@diamond.net.udl.edu
The Parent Information Center of Delaware (PIC)
This is a private, non profit organization funded by the U.S. and Delaware
Departments of Education, State of Delaware and private and corporate
gifts. PIC provides: education advocacy training for parents of children
with disabilities, information on special education laws and processes,
information on the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities
and disability awareness training for schools and communities. In addition,
PIC sponsors a Parent-to-Parent Support program with support group
meetings to help families cope with a disability in the family. PIC
sponsors a statewide conference each year which focuses on issues and
topics of interest to families of children with disabilities.
Parent Information Center of Delaware (Northern Delaware)
700 Barksdale Road, Suite 16, Newark, DE 19711
302-366-0152 FAX: 302-366-0276
Email: picofdel@picofdel.org
Website: www.picofdel.orgParent Information Center of Delaware
109 N. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone 302-856-9880 FAX 302-856-9882
Toll-Free(in Kent County): 1-888-547-4412
Medicaid
Medicaid clients and their families may contact the following for advocacy
assistance and information:
Delaware Medicaid Consumer Hotline: 1-800-372-2022
Health Benefits Manager: 1-800-996-9969
Other Sources of Information
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services is the Federal agency within the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that leads national efforts to improve prevention and mental health treatment services for all Americans.
The National Institute of Mental Health supports national research in the prevention and treatment of mental health problems
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law maintains a "Children’s Issues" section on their website which contains information which is of interests to children and their families.
