Section 214-RICR-10-00-1.10 - Complaints and AppealsA. The Department has a responsibility to inform all persons receiving services or persons seeking to receive services, licensees or prospective licensees and any person "indicated" as a result of a child abuse and/or neglect investigation of the right to an agency appeal to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Hearing Officer or, if they are not satisfied with the agency decision, of their subsequent right of appeal to the appropriate judicial forum.B. An attempt should be made to resolve complaints at the level where the decision was made through a discussion with the staff who made the decision and/or the staff's supervisor or administrator prior to filing a formal appeal with EOHHS. The EOHHS Hearing Officer provides an opportunity for any of the above named in § 1.11(A) of this Part to be heard through a formal procedure for review of any Department decision when efforts at informal resolution with the Department have not been successful.C. A complaint is any oral or written request for remedy made to a Department staff person in the field or office or to supervisory or administrative staff, concerning the administration of Department policies and programs, in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a specific person are required by law to be determined by the Department. Such complaints may include but are not limited to: 2. Placement or removal of children from foster homes;3. Disagreement in case planning;4. Claims of discrimination based on age, handicap, sex, race, religion, national origin, or color;6. Certification issues; or7. Indicated child abuse or neglect findings.214 R.I. Code R. 214-RICR-10-00-1.10
Adopted effective 12/27/2018