Complaint Procedure

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form. CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
FOUNDATION investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION will
only process complaints that are complete. To be considered complete, complainants must, at a minimum, include their name, contact information, date of alleged incident, and a description of the incident.

Once the complaint is received, CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing him/her whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.

CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION has ninety
(90) days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION may contact the complainant. The complainant has ten (10) business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within ten (10) business days, CHRISTINA G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. A LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has seven (7) days to do so from the time he/she receives the closure letter or the LOF.
The complaint procedures and forms will be made available to the public on CHRISTINA
G. SMITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION’s website (www.cgsmithcmhf.org). The forms are also available in other formats upon request.