Participant’s Rights and Responsibilities. Participant’s rights and responsibilities must be provided to participants upon intake and orientation evidenced by participant’s signature of acknowledgement or document of participant’s refusal or inability to sign. Participant’s rights and responsibilities must also be posted in common areas of the shelter. At a minimum, participant’s rights must include: • Participants have the right to be treated with dignity and respect; • Participants have the right to be treated with cultural responsiveness; • Participants have the right to privacy within the constrictions of the shelter environment; • Participants have the right to self-determination in identifying and setting goals; • Participants should be clearly informed, in understandable language, about the purpose of the services being delivered, including participants who are not literate and/or who have limited English proficiency; • Participants have a right to reasonable accommodation and modifications based on a disability or limited English proficiency; • Services should be provided to participants only in the context of a professional relationship based on valid, informed consent; • Participants have the right to confidentiality and information about when confidential information will be disclosed, to whom and for what purpose, as well as the right to deny disclosure, unless disclosure is required by law; and • Participants have the right to reasonable access to records concerning their involvement in the program. Participant’s responsibilities will include: • Participants are expected to support an environment that promotes safety, toward staff and other participants; • Participants are expected to follow participant guidelines reviewed at intake; • Participants are expected to participate and be active in their care, to the degree possible, in developing and achieving mutually agreed upon service plan goals; • Participants must provide, to the extent possible, accurate information needed by professional staff providing services to ensure thorough assessment, service planning, appropriate linkages and referrals; and • Participants are expected to maintain confidentiality and privacy of others, just as theirs must be maintained.
