Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

DLRS Home > Grievance Process Guide for Recipients of Mental Health Services > Informal Grievances Invoving Child or Adolescent Recipients

Community Services Programs

Grievance Process Guide for Recipients of Mental Health Services - Informal Grievances Invoving Child or Adolescent Recipients

We expect agencies to have an informal grievance process available to recipients of mental health services. We encourage you to utilize an agency's informal grievance process to resolve any grievances you may have directly with the agency. The utilization of such an agency mechanism is an alternative means to resolve the grievance. The agency's informal grievance process may be used at the sole discretion of the recipient or the recipient's family prior to engaging in the formal grievance resolution process. However, whenever the recipient or the recipient's family feel that resolution is not forthcoming, or is not to their satisfaction, or they are simply uncomfortable discussing their grievance with the provider, they may proceed with the formal resolution process that follows.

GRIEVANCES INVOLVING CHILD OR ADOLESCENT RECIPIENTS OF MENTAL RETARDATION OR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

At this time there is no formal grievance process in law or rule covering children and adolescents who are receiving Department services other than mental health services. However, the Department has mediation services available for the resolution of all grievances. Contact the DHHS Office of Advocacy or the Disability Rights Service of Maine (see page 23 of this Guide) for further information regarding grievances involving recipients of mental retardation or developmental services.

Note: The grievance resolution process for children and adolescents is the same, whether the mental health service has been provided by a community provider, an inpatient or residential facility, or by BDS regional staff.