1710 Prioritizing and Assigning Complaint / Self Reported Incident Investigations

Georgia State Seal

Department of Human Services
Policy and Manual Management System

Index:

POL 1710

Revised:

04/01/2026

Next Review:

04/01/2028

​Policy

It is the policy of Residential Child Care Licensing (RCCL) to receive, evaluate, and document all complaints and self-reported incidents regarding care in facilities subject to licensure. RCCL staff will investigate the following:

  1. Allegations of maltreatment and/or inadequate care occurring in privately licensed entities where harm or the potential for harm is assessed as requiring investigation.

  2. Possible non-compliance with the law, licensing rules, and/or waivers or variances placed on a license where harm or the potential for harm is assessed as requiring investigation.

​Authority

O.C.G.A. §§ 49-5-8

​References

RCC TRAILS
RCCL Incident Reporting Form

​Applicability

This policy applies to all RCCL staff and licensed child welfare agencies.

​Definitions

Allegation

An allegation is an assertion of improper care against a licensed provider that could result in a deficiency.

Child Welfare Agencies

Licensed Child-Caring Institutions (CCI), Child-Placing Agencies (CPA), Children’s Transition Care Centers (CTCC), Commercial Sexual Exploitation Recovery Centers (CSERC), Outdoor Child Caring Programs (OCCP), Maternity Homes (MH) and Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP).

Complaint

An oral or written report made to RCCL by anyone other than the administrator or authorized official for a provider that alleges maltreatment, inadequate care and/or non-compliance with State laws and regulations.

Investigation

Steps taken by RCCL staff to determine the validity of a report alleging non-compliance of the law or applicable Rules of the Department of Human Services.

Self-Reported Incident

A detailed statement, either oral or written, received from an authorized representative of a licensed or certified facility that the facility is required to report by law or regulation to RCCL.

​Responsibilities

  1. The RCCL Director is responsible for monitoring requirements for updating this policy.

  2. The RCCL Publisher and the RCCL Rules Coordinator will update this policy according to state requirements.

​History

Replaces Prioritizing and Assigning Complaint/Self-Reported Incident Investigations POL1710, last reviewed on 4/01/2026.

​Evaluation

The RCCL Director, Deputy Director of Program Operations, Deputy Director of Field Operations, and RCCL Surveyor Supervisors will evaluate this policy when:

  1. Conducting monthly data analysis of RCCL reports.

  2. Conducting reviews of reports received by the Office of Inspector General Centeral Intake and Customer Service unit.