Rule 24-2-14.5 - Local Grievance Policies and ProceduresA. There must be written policies and procedures for implementation of a process through which people's grievances can be reported and addressed at the local service location/center level. These policies and procedures, minimally, must ensure the following:1. People receiving services from the agency provider have access to a fair and impartial process for reporting and resolving grievances;2. People are informed and provided a copy of the local procedure for filing a grievance with the agency provider and of the procedure and timelines for resolution of grievances upon admission and annually thereafter;3. People receiving services and/or parent(s)/legal representative(s) are informed of the procedures for reporting/filing a grievance with DMH, including the availability of the toll-free telephone number upon admission and annually thereafter;4. People receiving services and/or parent(s)/legal representative(s) are informed of the procedures for reporting suspicions of abuse, exploitation or neglect in accordance with state reporting laws to include (but not limited) to the Vulnerable Persons Act and Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting requirements upon admission and annually thereafter; and,5. The agency provider will post in a prominent public area the DMH Office of Consumer Support informational poster containing procedures for filing a grievance with DMH. The information provided by DMH Office of Consumer Support must be posted at each service location.B. The policies and procedures for resolution of grievances at the agency provider level, minimally, must include:1. Definition of grievances: a written or verbal statement made by a person receiving services alleging a violation of rights or policy;2. Statement that grievances can be expressed without retribution;3. The opportunity to appeal to the executive officer of the agency provider, as well as the governing board of the agency provider;4. Timelines for resolution of grievances; and,5. The toll-free number for filing a grievance with the DMH Office of Consumer Support.C. There must be written documentation in the person's record that each person and/or parent(s)/legal representative(s) is informed of and given a copy of the procedures for reporting/filing a grievance described above, upon admission and annually thereafter if he/she continues to receive services from the agency provider.D. The policies and procedures must also include a statement that the DMH-certified agency provider will comply with timelines issued by DMH Office of Consumer Support in resolving grievances initially filed with DMH. Section 41-4-7 of the Mississippi Code, 1972, as Amended