Report 2021-107 Recommendation 10 Responses

Report 2021-107: Department of Developmental Services: It Has Not Ensured That Regional Centers Have the Necessary Resources to Effectively Serve Californians With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Release Date: June 2022)

Recommendation #10 To: Developmental Services, Department of

To ensure that regional centers provide statutorily required information to consumers about how to file a consumer rights complaint, DDS should, by January 2023, require all regional centers to include in their individual program plan document a written acknowledgement that staff discussed the complaint process with the consumer.

1-Year Agency Response

On December 28, 2022, DDS issued correspondence requiring regional centers to include in their IPP templates a written acknowledgment that regional center staff discussed the complaint process with the consumer and, if appropriate, their authorized representative, as required by W&I Code section 4731(f). Regional centers were required to submit modified IPP templates to DDS. All regional centers have provided DDS with their modified IPP templates that include written acknowledgement that regional center staff discussed the complaint process with the consumer and, if appropriate, their authorized representative.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

DDS is finalizing correspondence to regional centers on the statutory requirement to provide consumers with information about how to file a rights complaint. The correspondence will also require regional centers to include an acknowledgement in the IPP that information pertaining to filing a consumer rights complaint was provided. Additionally, the standard information packets that DDS is developing with stakeholder input, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 4642(a)(3), will include related information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

DDS is developing guidance to regional centers on the statutory requirement to provide consumers with information about how to file a rights complaint. Guidance will also require regional centers to include an acknowledgement in the IPP that information pertaining to filing a consumer rights complaint was provided. Additionally, the standard information packets that DDS is developing with stakeholder input, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 4642(a)(3), will include related information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2021-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.