Advance Directive Process for DMHAS Clients

Advance Directives give people more control over their health care decisions when they are unable to make or communicate their decisions. They are valuable tools that can help anyone plan for unexpected accidents and events that could leave them unable to make or communicate informed decisions. The recovery initiative implemented by Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) emphasizes that persons with mental health conditions must direct their own recovery and manage their conditions as part of their lives, rather than let the conditions define their lives. They are all about CHOICE.

Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., with feedback from DMHAS and the Attorney General’s office developed a workbook that individuals who are DMHAS clients or eligible DMHAS clients (low income and have or are perceived to have a psychiatric disability) can complete on their own or with a facilitator. Facilitators are a resource to clients and staff who explain the importance of advance directives, answer questions, give them flyers and find out whether they are interested in completing an Advance Directive workbook. 

1) Complete the advance directive with a facilitator or on your own and submit it to CLRP staff at a facility, office, clubhouse or other community location or by mail to CLRP P.O. Box 351, Silver St. Middletown, CT 06457 or fax to 860-262-5035.

2) CLRP will clarify the questions for the attorney and establish a meeting to execute the document in accordance with state statutes. Sometimes it is necessary to meet with the client before an execution to clarify the client’s preferences, but it often it can be conducted by telephone

3) CLRP will convert the workbook to a legal document that will be signed by the client and witnessed by two other individuals. The facilitator may be asked to serve as a witness

4) When the document has been executed, CLRP will:

a. obtain a signed request for notification from the health care representative (if appointed)

b. distribute copies of the advance directive and health care representative request to providers and copies of the document to other persons identified by the client 

c. provide the client with a wallet card

d. assist with placing the advance directive on the Network of Care website (in a personal confidential account) if the client wants.

5) CLRP should be contacted if the client wants to make any changes in the document or to revoke all or part of the document.

6) CLRP will send an annual reminder to the client to review the document.