Protection and Advocacy for
Individuals with Mental Illness
(PAIMI) Act

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act is a federal law whose purposes are (1) to ensure that the rights of individuals with mental illness are protected, and (2) to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with mental illness in designated residential settings. In Hawaii, the PAIMI Act is administered by the Hawaii Disability Rights Center (HDRC).

PAIMI Advisory Council

The PAIMI Advisory Council provides independent advice to HDRC on its PAIMI activities, including jointly determining with HDRC annual priorities, policies, goals and objectives. The membership of the Advisory Council is required to include:

• attorneys,
• mental health professionals,
• individuals from the public who are knowledgeable about mental illness,
• a provider of mental health services,
• individuals who have received or are receiving mental health services, and family members of such individuals

At least 60 percent of the Advisory Council must be individuals who have received or are receiving mental health services or family members of such individuals, and at least one family member shall be a primary care giver for an individual who is currently a minor child or youth who is receiving or has received mental health services.

Current Advisory Council Members

The current members of the HDRC PAIMI Advisory Council are:

• Raelyn L. Reyno Yeomans, Chair
• Jim Gottstein, Vice Chair
• Audrey Adachi
• William Chum
• Cassandra Kam
• Maryellen Markley
• Greg Payton
• Maile Rogers
• Keke Walker
• Fleur de Vie Weinstock

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to become a member of the HDRC PAIMI Advisory Council, please fill out the Application Form below and email it to    PAIMI@HawaiiDisabilityRights.org, or mail or deliver a hard copy to Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Attn: PAIMI Advisory Council, 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 1110, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. If you would like a hard copy sent to you, please let us know. If you need any assistance with your application, please let us know that, too.

The PDF is best for printing and filling in by hand. The Word (.docx) version can be typed into on your computer.

You may reach the PAIMI Advisory Council at PAIMI@HawaiiDisabilityRights.org.