As a youth placed through Twin Pines Family Services, one maintains certain rights. The following explains these rights and what steps occur once a complaint is filed. It also describes the protocol for explaining this policy so that all youth may understand this right.

 

YOUTH RIGHTS include the following:

• To be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect

• To be treated without discrimination based on color, religion, disability, national origin, age, and gender.

• To be treated without harassment, corporal punishment, unreasonable restraint or physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse.

• To live in the most family-like setting that meets your needs.

• To be given enough food and food of good quality.

• To clothing that is clean, seasonal and age and gender appropriate.

• To get all the medical and mental health services needed.

• To take part in developing your medical or mental health treatment plan.

• To agree to medical and mental health treatment, including medication.

• To be placed with kin and relatives, if possible.

• To be placed with families that have supported one before, if possible.

• To have all the contact information for the guardian ad litem, attorney, court appointed special advocate, and members of the planning team

• To be in a place that maintains your culture.

• To be able to stay in the same school when you change placements, when possible.

• To be able to take part in extracurricular, cultural, and personal enrichment activities.

• To have the opportunity to work and develop job skills.

• To get life skills training and independent living services.

• To have your case and personal information kept confidential.

• To receive notice of court hearings for your case and have the ability to attend the hearings.

• To take part in religious services and observances.

• To a permanency plan that one helped create and that one can review.

• To get notice that you can stay in care after you turn 18.

• To get notice of the grievance policy from the county or private provider agency.

• To be able to file a grievance, to receive the agency’s grievance policy, and to have your rights and the grievance policy explained to you in a way that you understand.

• To exercise parental and decision-making authority for your child (if you are a parent).

 

If you think your rights are not being respected, you should file a grievance with Twin Pines Family Services, LLC.

 

DEFINE

A grievance is a complaint. You can file a complaint if you believe that your rights have been violated, or you are being treated unfairly. You can ask anyone that you trust or feel comfortable with to help you file this complaint.

 

NEXT STEPS

Twin Pines will send a letter within (10) days of receiving the complaint informing that the complaint has been received and what actions we will take to resolve the matter.

 

The agency will send another letter within (30) days to describe our resolution.

 

If one does not agree with the decision, one can file an appeal. The letter received with the resolution will explain how to file an appeal.

 

EXPLANATION PROTOCOL

Twin Pines Family Services, LLC, acknowledges that barriers may exist to a child understanding their rights and how to file a complaint if they feel their rights have been violated.  Such barriers may include, but are not limited to, age, intellectual functioning, or limited understanding of the language in the policy.

 

Upon admission to a Twin Pines foster home, the Twin Pines Service Coordinator shall explain the child’s rights to them and shall further explain what steps to take should be taken if the child believes his/her/their rights are violated. The child should have an opportunity to ask questions and have their questions answered to their understanding.

 

Special consideration should be given to the age of the child, the child’s ability to understand the explanation and whether the child can communicate any questions.

 

For younger children, the child’s county case worker or their parent/legal guardian should receive a copy of the grievance policy and sign their acknowledgement.

 

Other resources may be utilized to ensure the child’s understanding. These services may include interpreters for language differences, picture cards, age-appropriate terminology, and terminology appropriate for the child’s level of understanding.