OAR 309-040-0410
Residents’ Bill of Rights, Complaints, and Grievances

(1) Residents’ Bill of Rights:
(a) The provider shall guarantee Residents’ Bill of Rights as described in ORS 443.739 (Rights of residents) and help residents exercise them;
(b) The provider shall post the Residents’ Bill of Rights in a location that is prominent and accessible to individuals, individuals’ representatives, parents, guardians, and advocates. The posted rights shall include the telephone number of the office to call to report complaints;
(c) The provider shall give a copy of the Residents’ Bill of Rights to each individual, individuals’ representatives, parents, guardians, and advocates along with a description of how to exercise these rights;
(d) Upon admission to the AFH:
(A) The provider shall explain the Residents’ Bill of Rights to each individual and to individuals’ representatives, parents, guardians, and advocates; and
(B) The provider shall document in the individual’s file that a copy of the Residents’ Bill of Rights is given to each individual and to the individuals’ representatives, parents, guardians, and advocates.
(e) The Residents’ Bill of Rights state that each resident has the right to:
(A) Be treated as an adult with respect and dignity;
(B) Be encouraged and assisted to exercise constitutional and legal rights as a citizen including the right to vote and be informed of all house rules;
(C) Receive appropriate care and services and prompt medical care as needed. Be informed of the individual’s medical condition and the right to consent to or refuse treatment;
(D) Adequate personal privacy and privacy to associate and communicate privately with any individual of choice, such as family members, friends, advocates, and legal, social service, and medical professionals; send and receive personal mail unopened; engage in telephone conversations; and have medical and personal information kept confidential;
(E) Have access to and participate in activities of social, religious, and community groups;
(F) Be able to keep and use a reasonable amount of personal clothing and belongings and to have a reasonable amount of private, secure storage space;
(G) Be free of discrimination in regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability;
(H) Manage financial affairs unless legally restricted and be free from financial exploitation. The provider may not charge or ask for application fees or nonrefundable deposits and may not solicit, accept, or receive money or property from an individual other than the amount agreed to for services;
(I) A safe and secure environment;
(J) Written notices prior to rate increases and evictions;
(K) A written agreement regarding services to be provided and agreed upon rates;
(L) Voice suggestions, complaints, or grievances without fear of retaliation;
(M) Freedom from training, treatment, chemical or physical restraints except as agreed to in writing in an individual’s RCP and be free from chemical or physical restraints except as ordered by a physician or other qualified practitioner;
(N) Be allowed and encouraged to learn new skills, to act on their own behalf to their maximum ability, and to relate to residents in an age appropriate manner;
(O) An opportunity to exercise choices including food selection, personal spending, friends, personal schedule, leisure activities, and place of residence;
(P) Freedom from punishment. Behavior intervention programs shall be approved in writing on the individual’s RCP;
(Q) Freedom from abuse and neglect;
(R) The opportunity to contribute to the maintenance and normal activities of the household;
(S) Access and opportunity to interact with persons with or without disabilities;
(T) The right not to be transferred or moved out of the AFH without 30 days’ advance written notice and an opportunity for a hearing as described in ORS 443.738 (Educational standards for providers, managers and caregivers) and OAR 411-088-0080 (Informal Conference and Hearing). A provider may transfer or discharge an individual only for medical reasons including a medical emergency described in ORS 443.738 (Educational standards for providers, managers and caregivers), or for the welfare of the individual or other residents, or for nonpayment; and
(U) Utilize advance directives. Advance directives shall be explained to each individual upon admission. If the individual does not already have any advance directive or directives, he or she shall be given an opportunity to complete them. If any advance directives are completed by the individual, the provider shall document these directives in the individual’s record. If the individual declines to file any advance directives, this declination shall be documented in the individual’s record;
(V) As used in this section, the term “advance directive” has the meaning given under ORS 127.505 (Definitions for ORS 127.505 to 127.660) and includes the “Declaration for Mental Health Treatment” under ORS 127.700 (Definitions for ORS 127.700 to 127.737) through 127.737 (Certain other laws applicable to declaration).
(2) Additional Rights for Individuals:
(a) Live under a legally enforceable residency agreement in compliance with protections substantially equivalent to landlord-tenant laws as described in this rule;
(b) Have visitors of the individual’s choosing at any time and the freedom to visit with guests within the common areas of the program and the individual’s sleeping room;
(c) The freedom and support to control one’s own schedule and activities including but not limited to accessing the community without restriction;
(d) Access to community resources including recreation, religious services, agency services, employment, and day programs, unless such access is legally restricted;
(e) Have a lockable door in the individual’s bedroom that may be locked by the individual;
(f) Choose a roommate when sharing a bedroom;
(g) Furnish and decorate the individual’s bedroom according to the residency agreement;
(h) The freedom and support to control the individual’s schedule and activities;
(i) Privacy in the individual’s bedroom;
(j) Section (2) of these rules and its subsections are effective July 1, 2016, and enforceable as described in OAR 309-040-0315 (License Application and Fees)(7).
(3) The qualities and obligations described in section 3(b)(c)(d)(e)(h) of this rule do not apply to an individual receiving crisis-respite services, and a provider need not seek an individually-based limitation for such an individual to comply with these rules.
(4) The provider shall actively work to support and ensure each individual’s rights described in this rule are not limited or infringed upon by the provider or an AFH caregiver, except where expressly allowed under these rules.
(5) Any person who believes these rules have been violated may file a complaint with the Division or CMHP. The Division or CMHP may investigate any complaint or grievance regarding the AFH.
(6) The Division or CMHP shall furnish each AFH with a Complaint and Grievance Notice that the provider shall post in a conspicuous place stating the telephone number of the Division and the CMHP and the procedure for making complaints or grievances.
(7) A copy of all AFH complaints or grievances shall be maintained by the Division. All complaints or grievances and actions taken on the complaint or grievance, indexed by the name of the provider, shall:
(a) Be placed into the public file at the Division. Information regarding the investigation of the complaint or grievance may not be filed in the public file until the investigation has been completed;
(b) Protect the privacy of the complainant or grievant and the individual; and
(c) Treat the names of the witnesses as confidential information.
(8) The Division may suspend, revoke, and refuse to renew or impose conditions against the license of a provider who acquires substantiated complaints or grievances pertaining to the health, safety, or welfare of individuals.
(9) The AFH provider, resident manager, or caregiver may not retaliate in any way against any individual after a complaint or grievance has been filed with the Division. Retaliation may include but is not limited to the following:
(a) Increasing charges or threatening to increase charges;
(b) Decreasing or threatening to decrease services, rights, or privileges;
(c) Threatening to increase charges or decrease services, rights, or privileges;
(d) Taking or threatening to take any action to coerce or compel the individual to leave the AFH; or
(e) Abusing, harassing, or threatening to abuse or harass an individual in any manner.
(10) A complainant, grievant, witness, or caregiver of an AFH may not be subject to retaliation by a provider or resident manager or substitute caregiver for making a report or being interviewed about a complaint or being a witness. Retaliation may include but is not limited to caregiver dismissal or harassment or restriction of access to either the AFH or an individual.
(11) The complainant has immunity from any civil or criminal liability with respect to the making or content of a complaint or grievance made in good faith.
(12) Any individual may inspect and receive a photocopy of the public complaint files, including protective services files, maintained by the Division upon written request subject to the Division’s procedures, ORS 192.410 through 192.505, and photocopy charges for public record requests.

Source: Rule 309-040-0410 — Residents’ Bill of Rights, Complaints, and Grievances, .

309‑040‑0300
Purpose and Scope 309‑040‑0305
Definitions 309‑040‑0307
Required Home-like Qualities 309‑040‑0310
License Required 309‑040‑0315
License Application and Fees 309‑040‑0320
Classification of AFHs 309‑040‑0325
Capacity 309‑040‑0330
Zoning for Adult Foster Homes 309‑040‑0335
Training Requirements for Providers, Resident Managers, and Substitute Caregivers 309‑040‑0340
Issuance of a License 309‑040‑0345
Renewal 309‑040‑0350
Variance 309‑040‑0355
Contracts 309‑040‑0360
Qualifications for AFH Providers, Resident Managers, and Other Caregivers 309‑040‑0365
Facility Standards 309‑040‑0370
Safety 309‑040‑0375
Sanitation 309‑040‑0380
Individual Furnishings 309‑040‑0385
Food Services 309‑040‑0390
Standards and Practices for Care and Services 309‑040‑0393
Individually-Based Limitations 309‑040‑0394
Residency Agreement 309‑040‑0395
Standards for Admission, Transfers, Respite, Discharges, and Closures 309‑040‑0400
Inspections 309‑040‑0405
Procedures for Correction of Violations 309‑040‑0410
Residents’ Bill of Rights, Complaints, and Grievances 309‑040‑0415
Administrative Sanctions 309‑040‑0420
Denial, Suspension, Revocation, or Refusal to Renew 309‑040‑0425
Removal of Residents 309‑040‑0430
Conditions 309‑040‑0435
Criminal Penalties 309‑040‑0440
Civil Penalties 309‑040‑0445
Public Information 309‑040‑0450
Adjustment, Suspension or Termination of Payment 309‑040‑0455
Enjoinment of AFH Operation
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 309-040-0410’s source at