External Advocates are independent advocates who provide assistance and support to individuals receiving services at state operated mental health and juvenile justice facilities.
External Advocates:
- Help individuals and their families with questions, concerns, and complaints regarding hospital care and treatment.
- Help resolve concerns and complaints.
- Work with individuals and others, including local/regional mental health offices and county providers, to facilitate community living.
- Refer individuals to an attorney or agency that provides legal advocacy.
- Assist with questions about benefit programs and concerns regarding employment.
- Provide technical assistance and education regarding rights to individuals, their families and the hospital staff.
- Ensure the fundamental rights of the individual receiving services in the state operated facility.
For additional information regarding external advocates at the state run mental health facilities, download the External Advocate brochure. For more on external youth advocates, download the External Youth Advocate brochure.
If you have questions about the External Advocate Program, contact MHAPA by phone at 866-578-3659 or email at externaladvocacy@mhapa.org.
External Adult Advocates
Allentown State Hospital (ASH) – Transition to the Community
Connie Hammann
610-821-6316
610-451-9866 (Cell)
c-chammann@state.pa.us
Clark Summit State Hospital (CSSH)
Bill Buck
570-207-0157; 570-587-7127
570-687-5442 (Cell)
bb@theadvocacyalliance.org
Carl Mosier
570-558-0381; 570-587-7127
570-262-3336 (cell)
cm@theadvocacyalliance.org
Danville State Hospital
Nancy Hazlinsky
570-271-4624
c-nhazlins@state.pa.us
Norristown State Hospital (NSH)
Akhnaton Browne
610-313-5401
267-258-0802 (Cell)
c-abrowne@state.pa.us
BillieLee Kindermann
610-313-5260
c-bkinderm@state.pa.us
South Mountain Restoration Center (SMRC)
Lee Ann Coldsmith
717-749-4042
c-lcoldsmi@state.pa.us
Torrence State Hospital (TSH)
Christie Lisbon
724-459-4520
c-clisbon@state.pa.us
Renee Patten
724-459-4583
c-rpatten@state.pa.us
Warren State Hospital (WSH)
Dave Taylor
814-726-4294
c-dataylor@state.pa.us
Wernersville State Hospital (WSH)
Claudia Hambright
610-670-4150, ext. 150
c-chambrig@state.pa.us
Deb McCone
610-670-4150, ext. 150
c-dmccone@state.pa.us
External Youth Advocates
New Castle Youth Development Center and Cresson Secure Treatment Unit
Elaina Ingalls
412-661-7860, ext. 2021
eingalls@mhaac.net
Youth Forestry Camp #2
Bill Buck
877-315-6855
bb@theadvocacyalliance.org
South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit and Youth Forestry Camp #3
Shirley Simmeth
717-264-4301
Simmeth28@gmail.com
Loysville Youth Development Center and North Central Secure Treatment Unit
Madelyn Roman-Scott
866-578-3659, ext. 7
mroman@mhapa.org
