ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS STATEMENT

The Board of Trustees of the Darke County Mental Health Clinic, Inc., dba The Mental Health Clinic, is committed to insuring that the highest ethical practices are adhered to by the organization. This Ethics Statement shall be communicated to all personnel and Board members at orientation and shall be reviewed annually by all personnel. In the effort to share The Mental Health Clinic Organizational Ethics Statement with clients and other stakeholders, the Ethics Statement shall be posted internally and included with agency marketing literature.

• The Mental Health Clinic will not discriminate against or refuse its services to anyone on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS infections, sexual preference, ability to pay or notoriety of the referral source or client.

• The Mental Health Clinic shall at all times adhere to all confidentiality laws governing the agency and clients served.

• The Mental Health Clinic shall promote and market its services only to an extent that accurately reflects the organization’s capabilities.

• The Mental Health Clinic will make decisions regarding service expansion, collaboration, and affiliation in a manner consistent with our mission.

• The Mental Health Clinic is committed to remaining a good community citizen with sensitivity to the impact our decisions may have on surrounding neighborhoods.

• The Mental Health Clinic shall promote exemplary and accepted business practices with clients, significant others and business partners.

• The Mental Health Clinic shall adhere to written agreements and contractual relationships entered into by the organization and provide a collaborative process to seek resolution to any dispute that may arise.

• The Mental Health Clinic will use ethical and accepted billing practices with all clients, funders, and regulatory agencies.

• Potential conflicts of interest shall be identified and addressed directly by all The Mental Health Clinic trustees and staff on a voluntary basis. If a conflict is identified pertaining to any trustee or staff person, it shall be addressed immediately.

• The integrity of clinical decision-making is based upon the bio-psychosocial needs of the clients and not on financial incentives.

• The Mental Health Clinic shall seek to insure all admissions to the organization are appropriate to the level of care required by the individual.
  
  
• The Mental Health Clinic shall seek to continually improve its services insuring highest quality individualized client care appropriate to the needs of the individual.
  
  
• The Mental Health Clinic shall seek to insure competent staff provide those services and that they are licensed or credentialed to do so. Staff shall demonstrate high levels of professional conduct and personal behavior in all matters with clients, significant others and other professionals.
  
  
• The Mental Health Clinic shall seek to provide a safe environment for clients, staff and visitors.
  
  
• The Mental Health Clinic shall adhere to a “no reprisal” system for personnel to use in reporting waste, fraud, abuse and other questionable activities and functions as described in the agency’s Corporate Compliance Program.

Suzie O'Brien, R.N.
President, Board of Trustees