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March 1, 2021
Attention: All Parents and/or Guardians of Any Residents Currently Placed Mountain Home Academy – Located at 2850 Industrial Way, Mountain Home, Idaho 83647
The purpose of this announcement is to inform parents and guardians of residents currently placed at Mountain Home Academy that DRI will be monitoring activities at the facility the week of March 8, 2021 and may in the course of such monitoring have access to the minor or adult with a legal guardian. 42 C.F.R. 51.42(e).
Disability Rights Idaho (DRI) is Idaho’s designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) system—part of a nationwide network of agencies that work to protect the legal rights of people with disabilities. One of our core duties as Idaho P&A system is to conduct periodic monitoring visits to facilities, which provide care or treatment to individuals with mental illness. 42 U.S.C. 10805; 42 C.F.R. §51.42. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, DRI is using remote monitoring to exercise our statutory duties and has scheduled to conduct remote monitoring activities at Mountain Home Academy the week of March 8, 2021.
Under Federal law, the P&A system must have reasonable unaccompanied access to facilities which may house or render care to individuals with disabilities, including all areas which are used by residents, accessible to residents, and to programs and their residents at reasonable times – which, at a minimum, shall include normal working and visiting hours. 42 C.F.R. §51.42(c). Such residents that the P&A is to have access to during a monitor include adults and minors who have legal guardians or conservators. 42 C.F.R. §51.42(e).
DRI also has authority to educate individuals with disabilities about their rights and available P&A services. 42 C.F.R. §51.42(c)(1). Thus, as part of our remote monitoring, DRI intends to present on and provide materials to educate individuals regarding their rights, services available from DRI, and other appropriate referrals.
DRI has asked the facility place this notification in the visiting room and with any other materials provided to parents/guardians of youth placed in this facility.
If any parent or guardian has any questions about this announcement or DRI’s monitoring activities at Mountain Home Academy, please contact Courtney R. Holthus, Director of Legal and Advocacy Services at DRI at (208) 336-5353, ext. 119 or via email at courtney@disabilityrightsidaho.org.
BOISE OFFICE
4477 EMERALD, SUITE B-100 BOISE, ID 83706
TOLL FREE: 866-262-3462
WEBSITE: www.disabilityrightsidaho.org E-MAIL: info@disabilityrightsidaho.org
POCATELLO OFFICE
1246 YELLOWSTONE AVE., STE A-3 POCATELLO, ID 83201
TEL: 208-336-5353 FAX: 208-336-5396