PAIMI Advisory Council

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council works to protect the rights of children and adults throughout Wisconsin who have mental illness. The council advises Disability Rights Wisconsin’s staff and board of directors. They help decide what issues to focus on and what policies to create to better support people with mental illness.

Members of the PAIMI Advisory Council represent the diverse communities served by Disability Rights Wisconsin. The Council makes sure that people with lived experience have a strong voice. At least 60% of Council members must be people who have received or are receiving mental health services or family members of people who have received or are receiving mental health services. The Council must also include the primary caregiver of a child or youth who has received or is receiving mental health services.

In addition, the Council must include:

an attorney
a mental health professional
a provider of mental health services
a member of the public who knows about mental illness, understands advocacy needs, and has shown a strong commitment to improving mental health services

The Council exists because of the federal PAIMI Act, which created a nationwide system to protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illness. This law helps ensure their civil rights are respected and enforced.

PAIMI Advisory Council Members

The Council is chaired by Camilla O’Brien. If you have questions about the PAIMI Advisory Council, contact pacchair@drwi.org.

Tiffany Stark
Chair
West Allis

Tricia Thompson
Vice Chair
Menomonie

Amanda Smith
Milwaukee

Arah Schmidt
Reedsville

John Hintz
Pewaukee

Katherine Perttunen
Hurley

Margaret Rubio
Madison

Mina Ruth Lemke Esser
Madison

Thomas Spieker
Mount Pleasant

Tracy Loken Weber
Muskego

Mike Soukup
DRW Supervising Attorney

Kit Kerschensteiner
DRW Director of Advocacy and Legal Services

More About DRW

Apply for the PAIMI Council

To learn more about serving on the Council or to apply:

Download the About the PAIMI Advisory Council (accessible PDF) (pdf)

PAC Member Application Forms:

Meetings

The PAIMI Advisory Council meets at least three times per year in conjunction with Disability Rights Wisconsin Board meetings. Council terms are for two years and members may be re-appointed for a second term. Travel, meals, and hotel expenses associated with meetings are reimbursed for Council members, following the Council policy.

Attend a Meeting!

If you care about protecting the rights of people with mental illness, we would love to hear from you. You do not have to be a member of the PAIMI Advisory Council to come to our meetings. We welcome anyone who wants to share their experiences or opinions about the rights of people with mental illness.

If you plan to attend one of our quarterly meetings, please contact us ahead of time at 800‑928‑8778 or pacchair@drwi.org so we know to expect you. We encourage you to join us to learn more about the PAIMI Advisory Council and the work we do.

Because PAIMI is funded by the federal government, we can not reimburse non‑Council members for costs like travel, meals, or hotels.

Thank you for your interest. We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!