1. A. The licensee shall have a written policy and procedure governing the receipt, consideration, and resolution of grievances regarding the licensee’s program and care of children brought to the licensee by a child in care, or child’s parent or guardian. The policy and procedure shall:

   1. 1. Be written in a clear and simple manner that is developmentally appropriate for a child in care;
   2. 2. Prohibit retaliation against an individual who brings a grievance;
   3. 3. Describe a process for fair and expeditious resolution of a grievance;
   4. 4. Provide a means to tell the grievant about the action taken in response to the grievance;
   5. 5. Provide the grievant with instructions for submitting the grievance to the licensee; and
   6. 6. Identify an accessible location for blank copies of the grievance form in each facility.

2. B. The licensee shall maintain a log of grievances filed against the licensee. The licensee may keep a centralized Agency log, or may maintain a separate log for each facility. The log shall include the following information:

   1. 1. Name of grievant;
   2. 2. Date grievance filed;
   3. 3. Description of the substance of the grievance;
   4. 4. Summary of the grievance resolution; and
   5. 5. A copy of the grievance decision.
3. C. The licensee shall maintain written records of a grievance decision for at least three years after the resolution of the grievance, or three years after the child has left the Agency, whichever is later.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 2231 (September 29, 2023), effective November 6, 2023 (Supp. 23-3).