Workplace Essentials (WE) Recipient Rights Process
This course focuses on the Recipient Rights complaint and reporting process, emphasizing that protecting rights is everyone’s responsibility. You’ll learn how to identify and report potential violations, understand the Office of Recipient Rights (ORR) procedures for handling complaints, and recognize your role in supporting investigations. By walking through real-world examples and case scenarios, you’ll see how staff and ORR work together to maintain fairness, accountability, and trust throughout the behavioral health system.
This module explores how the complaint process functions and what responsibilities staff members hold at every step, including:
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Reporting Requirements: How and when to report apparent or suspected rights violations.
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Examples of Reportable Violations: Scenarios that clarify when staff must act.
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Failure to Report: Consequences and professional accountability.
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Allegations vs. Complaints: Understanding what constitutes an official complaint.
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Complaint Process Overview: ORR procedures, timelines, and resolution steps.
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Interventions and Investigations: Distinctions, outcomes, and the preponderance standard.
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Staff Participation: Expectations during investigations and how cooperation supports fairness.
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Employee Rights: Protections against retaliation, confidentiality, and transparency during disciplinary action.
Designed for all professionals in Michigan’s public behavioral health system, whether working in community mental health, hospitals, or contracted provider agencies, this course is essential for anyone responsible for maintaining compliance with recipient rights standards and reporting procedures.
After completing this module, learners will be able to:
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Describe the ORR process for receiving and resolving rights complaints.
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Identify when and how to report potential rights violations under the Michigan Mental Health Code.
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Recognize their responsibility to cooperate in investigations and reporting.
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Explain the rights of employees participating in recipient-rights-related activities.
Beverly Sobolewski
Beverly Sobolewski is one of ORR’s four Community Rights Specialists, at MDHHS-ORR. Her focus is on the Rights system in the private hospitals, which includes the psychiatric units.
Ms. Sobolewski has more than 39 years of diversified experience in the Behavioral Health Services and Recipient Rights fields. She been in state government service 2000, serving in the Office of Recipient Rights. She is resource for rights officers in both the licensed hospital and CMH offices. Ms. Sobolewski trains new rights officers and advisors and assists consumers and rights staff in accessing and understanding the rights system. She trains advocates and recipients in the community on the rights process and how to successfully navigate the system, from complaint through appeal.
Previously, she was a recipient rights advisor at Mercy Hospital-Detroit, Southwest Counseling and Development Services (a part of DWMHA) and St. John Northeast Hospital in Detroit.
Ms. Sobolewski holds a Master’s degree in Administration with a concentration in education and training from Madonna University, in Livonia, Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
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