Child welfare grievance form – Human Services
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Child welfare grievance form

Purpose

The county Department of Human Services Division of Child Welfare is required per Vol. Vll and C.R.S. Title 19 to adhere to a procedural process for accepting and addressing grievances from the public related employee misconduct. Individuals will be given a means in which to address their concerns and receive feedback related to the resolution of their grievance.

Policy

An individual interacting with the Garfield County Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division will be given an avenue in which to file a grievance against an employee when the individual feels unjust treatment has been rendered towards them. The availability of the process for all dependency and neglect cases through the “Notice of Rights and Remedies” and by informing child welfare clients, guardians, and legal custodians of the process during initial contacts with parties at the time of removal. Additionally, all assessments and case closure notices will have information regarding the grievance process. The recipient is a “subject involved in a child welfare assessment or case. Exclusions to grievance through this policy include conduct by the courts, attorneys, law enforcement officials, employees of the state, foster parents or other providers of services to children or other family members.

The Director will determine if the complaint meets the specific criteria for a grievable action. Behaviors in conducting duties outlined under the Children’s Code or VOL. Vll that are contrary to state or federal law or regulation or are dangerous, malicious, or negligent toward the person being assessed. This does not include conduct a prudent, reasonable professional would utilize in similar circumstances. It is preferable that the complainant initially contact the employee’s supervisor, Program Manager, or Division Manager for review. If the individual does not receive satisfaction at the supervisory level, a formal review by the Department Director will commence within 10 days of the receipt of the complaint. In the event the complaint is not resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction at the Director level, the county will submit a referral of the grievance to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman.

Procedure

Procedural timelines for employee conduct grievance process: The conflict resolution process must provide for the resolution of grievances as follows:
I. Transmittal of all grievances to the county child welfare director for internal resolution by the county department within ten working days after receipt of the grievance;
II. Closure of the grievance and issuance of a written final decision within thirty-five days of receipt of the grievance if the county department has resolved the grievance to the complainant’s satisfaction;
III. Referral of the grievance by the County Director to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman if the county department has not resolved the grievance to the complainant’s satisfaction;
IV. Review by the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman in accordance with section 19- 3.3-103; Nothing prevents a complainant from making a complaint directly to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman A county department is not precluded from presenting any relevant evidence in a pending civil or criminal investigation or proceeding that the county department as obtained in the course of fulfilling its duties in the conflict resolution process.

Additional Information:

• Each county department shall post information about the county department’s public facing website or otherwise provide information concerning the grievance process to individuals involved in the county child welfare system and procedures for processing grievances, for determining if a grievance is within the scope of the conflict resolution process, and for receiving additional information from the complainant and the subject of the grievance.

• Employees who are subjects of public complaints will receive copies of all written recommendations.

• Employees are subject and retain rights related to the grievance procedure as outlined in the Garfield County Personnel Policies and Procedure Manual.

• Limitations related to civil or criminal investigations or court proceedings must be recognized.