Section 244-RICR-00-00-1.4 - Comprehensive Certification1.4.1DescriptionAgencies or individuals seeking comprehensive certification as batterers intervention programs shall submit an application and accompanying documentation to the Review Subcommittee of the BIPSOC; or shall supplement and update as needed the application and documents submitted as part of an immediately preceding provisional certification process.
1.4.2The Application ProcessA. On or before expiration of provisional certification (or extension, if applicable, as described below), the program is responsible for demonstrating and/or affirming compliance with each of the Comprehensive Standards to the satisfaction of the Oversight Committee.B. In advance of the Oversight Committee meeting at which certification status of a given program will be considered (generally the meeting on or shortly before the expiration date of the current provisional certification), the Review Subcommittee shall discuss with the program representative the preliminary findings as to compliance (and non-compliance) with the Comprehensive Standards, and anticipated recommendations. The program representative shall be offered the opportunity to prepare a response for presentation to the Oversight Committee, if desired.C. Any duly authorized representative of the applicant program shall have the opportunity to present information, respond to questions, or describe aspects of the program, if desired.D. While the Review Subcommittee handles most of the preliminary preparation with the applicant programs, final decision-making authority rests with the Oversight Committee.1.4.3Denial of Comprehensive Certification:A. If a provisionally certified program has been unable to demonstrate satisfactorily having met all of the requirements for comprehensive certification within the six (6) month timeframe, the Oversight Committee is empowered to deny comprehensive certification. Any denial of comprehensive certification shall be made subsequent to a motion and vote conducted in a manner consistent with the By Laws and applicable regulations.B. Within five (5) business days following an affirmative vote to deny a program's application for comprehensive certification, the Oversight Committee shall send written notice of the decision to the designated contact person at the agency by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall include a statement of the basis for the decision. The Oversight Committee shall also notify likely referral sources that the program is no longer certified as being eligible to receive referrals of domestic violence offenders for court mandated batterers intervention, unless an extension of provisional certification has been granted, as described below.C. An agency or individual denied comprehensive certification through this process may be eligible to apply for an extension of provisional certification, as described below; or to reapply for provisional certification (or submit a revised application) after a minimum of sixty (60) days from the date of denial.1.4.4 Request for Extension of Provisional Certification:A. If a provisionally certified program has been unable to meet all of the requirements for comprehensive certification with the six (6) month time frame, and has been informed of such preliminary findings by the Review Subcommittee, the program may request an extension of provisional certification by submitting a request in writing to the Oversight Committee on or before the expiration of provisional certification. As part of the request, the program shall include a detailed, formal plan of action to address all identified areas of non-compliance with the Comprehensive Standards. The plan of action must specify the nature of the deficiency, with reference to all standards involved; the plan to correct the deficiency; the person(s) responsible for implementing the changes; the date of projected readiness; and how compliance can be verified. Information shall be specific and detailed.B. Within five (5) business days following an affirmative vote to deny an extension of provisional certification, the Oversight Committee shall send written notice of the decision to the designated contact person at the agency by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall include a statement of the basis for the decision. The Oversight Committee shall also notify likely referral sources that the program is no longer certified as being eligible to receive referrals of domestic violence offenders for court mandated batterers intervention.C. An affirmative vote to grant an extension shall be accompanied by formal note for the record of the program's plan of action, and shall be granted for no longer than six (6) months additional time beyond the expiration date of the initial provisional certification. The Review Subcommittee shall continue to work with such a program during the period of extended provisional certification in a manner similar to that described above in Provisional Certification, subject to availability of members.1.4.5Awarding of Comprehensive Certification:A. Upon determination by the Oversight Committee that an applicant agency or individual has satisfactorily demonstrated compliance with each of the Batterers Intervention Program Comprehensive Standards, the Oversight Committee is empowered to award comprehensive certification. Such award shall be made subsequent to a motion and vote conducted in a manner consistent with the By Laws and applicable regulations.B. The award of comprehensive certification is based on the representations of the applicant agency that it meets each of the Batterers Intervention Program Comprehensive Standards for an agency that provides batterers intervention services to court mandated offenders, along with verification of a sample of selected standards by the Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee reserves the right to conduct ongoing monitoring, review and re-certification in accordance with established procedures.C. Comprehensive certification as a batterers intervention program shall remain in effect for two (2) years from the date of award, or for another time period specified by the Committee; provided, however, that if the Committee shall confirm that a certified program is not in compliance with the comprehensive standards, the Oversight Committee shall reserve the right to revoke or suspend certification.D. In the event that the Committee is unable to vote on the certification status of a program due to lack of quorum or other circumstance not related to the program's qualifications, the existing provisional certification status shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the Committee is able to conduct a vote in accordance with the By Laws.244 R.I. Code R. 244-RICR-00-00-1.4
Adopted effective 1/17/2019