The mission of the Department of Human Services Office of Licensing is twofold:
- To protect the health, safety, well-being and rights of persons receiving services from programs regulated or reviewed by the Department of Human Services; and
- To improve the quality of life for persons receiving services from those programs.
The operational components of the Office of Licensing - Developmental Disabilities Licensing and Mental Health Licensing - shall accomplish the mission by two principal means.
The first means shall consist of inspection and monitoring to ensure that:
- All sites where services are provided are safe from fire and other environmental hazards.
- All sites where services are provided are clean and well maintained.
- All persons receiving services are protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
- All persons receiving services are offered appropriate assistance in meeting their basic personal needs.
- All persons receiving services have access to appropriate activities, therapies and treatments designed for their well-being and personal growth.
- All persons receiving services have access to appropriate health care.
- All persons receiving services are afforded rights that shall not be abridged, including the right to respect, dignity, privacy and interaction with others.
- All persons receiving services are provided with opportunities to express concerns and to have input into decisions that affect them.
- All services are provided in the least restrictive setting commensurate with individual needs.
- All services are provided by a qualified and trained workforce.
The second means shall be for all staff of the Office of Licensing to act collaboratively at all times as advocates for persons receiving services.
