Grievance Resolution Procedure

If you have a complaint with the Office of Children's Services and cannot resolve your complaint informally with your social worker, there is a grievance procedure which you may access.  The Grievance Procedure is a formal way to ensure your complaint is considered at higher levels.

If you decide to go forward with the grievance procedure, you will receive a Complaint Form (06-9538) and a copy of the grievance procedure regulations (Alaska Administrative Code 7 AAC 54.205 - 7 AAC 54.900) which explain the grievance procedure in detail.  You can download a copy of the Grievance Procedure Form from our Publications Page or a OCS supervisor can get you the form.  Please Note: This form must be submitted to a OCS Supervisor.

This complaint form should not be used to file a report of Child abuse or neglect. Please use the toll-free number from our Contacts page 

An aggrieved individual may file a grievance only on the following grounds:

1) the application of a division policy or procedure;

2) an action or failure to act by the division; or 

3) a division licensing investigation, only after the investigation is complete.  

The grievance procedure is not available

1) to a resident of a state-operated juvenile correctional facility for which procedures developed by the superintendent under 7 AAC 52.095 apply;

2) to a state employee unless the employee is also a client of the division, a client's parent or guardian, or a service provider for the division;

3) for contract or agreement for services disputes;

4) to appeal late payments or to contest paid rates;

5) to complain of child placement or removal decisions of the division as a result of intervention under Alaska Statute 47.10;

6) to complain of a denial, involuntary conditioning, suspension, or revocation of a license for which an appeal is available under Alaska Statute 44.62:

7) to appeal a decision regarding grant programs for which an appeal is available under 7 AAC 78.310; and

8) to appeal a decision regarding civil rights actions covered under the department's civil rights complaint procedures.

You can download this document in both DOC and PDF formats from our Publications Page.