Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 212 - Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals
Chapter 10 - Licensing and General Administration
Subchapter 05 - Developmental Disability Organizations
Part 1 - Rules and Regulations for Developmental Disability Organizations
Section 212-RICR-10-05-1.5 - Grievance Procedure

A. Every Organization shall establish an accessible grievance procedure.

B. The grievance procedure shall be presented to every participant in a manner consistent with the participant's or applicant's learning style and be conspicuously posted in each Organization. The notice of grievance procedure shall include the name and contact information for Organizations that provide free legal assistance.

C. The participant or advocate shall be entitled to initiate a grievance. It shall be the duty of each Organization to encourage and assist the participant or applicant in exercising his or her rights without threat of discrimination or recrimination.

D. The participant, or advocate, shall initiate the process by filing for a grievance with the executive director of the Organization, the human rights committee or with the Department. The recipient of the grievance shall forthwith forward a copy of the grievance form to the chair of the human rights committee.

E. The executive director of the Organization, or his or her designee, with the assistance of the chair of the human rights committee or his or her designee, shall investigate the grievance and issue a written decision to the participant, or advocate, within five (5) business days of receipt of the grievance. The written decision shall include a copy of the grievance, a list of persons interviewed in the investigation, the steps taken to resolve the grievance, and the conclusion of the Organization's executive director or his or her designee.

F. The chair of the human rights committee or his or her designee shall, if necessary, assist the participant in requesting a review.