Your Rights

While at Brewer-Porch Children’s Center, you have the right:

To Know Your Rights

To be given a copy of this document
For you or your guardian to get a copy of your rights
To have your rights told to you in words you can understand
To talk to someone you trust if you think your rights are not being honored

To Be Respected

To be treated respectfully by staff members
To be looked after by people who care for you and will keep you safe
To be treated like other children not in treatment when possible
To be told the rules you must follow and, when possible, why they are necessary

To Be a Healthy Kid

To do things all kids can do, like going to school and places in the community
To have enough food to eat, water to drink, time to rest and play, and fresh air to play in
To get help when you are sick or hurt
To get any help you might need at school
To take part in treatment and activities even if you need extra help to do so

To Safety

To not be spanked, hit, bullied, or hurt by staff
To not be held or secluded unless your are not being safe to yourself or other people
To get medication only when it will help you do your best or help you to be safe

To Be Involved in Your Treatment

To have treatment planned specifically for you
To talk to the treatment team and help to make your treatment plan
To know who will help you and how they will do so
To ask questions and to make suggestions
To know what you need to do to leave treatment, and who will help you when you do leave

To Privacy

To have things about you or your treatment only shared with people who need to know
To only be searched or have your things searched when there is a good reason to do so
To have privacy in the bathroom
To have privacy to talk to your therapist

If You Live at Brewer-porch, You Have Some Other Rights:

To have a safe, clean place to sleep
To have a place to keep your things
To talk to your family or others who are approved by your legal guardian
To send and receive mail
If it is okay with your guardian, to have private space to visit or talk with your family or other visitors
Attend church or participate in other religious activities

How to Get Help

If you think your rights are not being honored or you are having a problem with your rights, you should talk about it with someone you trust:

Staff
Parent/Guardian
Therapist
Social Worker
Program Coordinator
BPCC Leadership

Here are some other people you can talk to as well:

BPCC Internal Advocate (Dane Cameron): (205) 348-9367
DMH Office of Advocacy Services: 1-800-367-0955 or (334) 242-3453
ADAP: 1-800-826-1675
DHR Protective Services: (205) 554-1100

You can also make suggestions in the suggestion boxes around BPCC, which we check regularly.