Provides resources, advocacy, and mediation for complaints against behavioral health services by individual providers and facilities. Oversees regional behavioral health advocates, who are peers with lived experience with receiving behavioral health services and navigating the system. Advocate Services: - Investigate and resolve grievances at the lowest possible level; - Educate clients and families about the behavioral health system; - Assist with the completion of a Mental Health Advanced Directive - Advocates and assists a client through a complaint, grievance, appeal, or state fair hearing process; - Connects clients to provider agencies in their area

Investigates complaints concerning any of the facilities and agencies licensed and inspected by the Department of Health:   - Hospitals - Ambulatory surgical facilities - Child birth centers - Home health agencies - Behavioral health agencies - Behavioral health treatment facilities Does not have the authority to invoke or enforce criminal or civil penalties. Authority is limited to taking action against a health care facility license. Not able to deny, modify or suspend a license which can result in the facility having to close.