The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (Office) prohibits investigation of any complaint by an ombudsman staff person or ombudsman volunteer, unless the person has satisfactorily completed training required by the Office, and has been approved as qualified to investigate such complaints.

• (1) Office staff:
• (A) orients and trains ombudsman staff representatives and determines satisfactory completion of prescribed training; 
• (B) develops and periodically updates core curriculum for use in training ombudsman staff and volunteers;
• (C) assists area ombudsman staff in the training of ombudsman volunteers, upon request; 
• (D) provides, on a quarterly basis, a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education and training to ombudsman supervisors per year;
• (E) provides community education in coordination with area staff;
• (F) officially certifies newly trained ombudsman volunteers who meet screening criteria; and
• (G) assists in the development of citizen organizations to participate in the State Long‑Term Care Ombudsman Program.
• (2) Area ombudsman staff representatives:
• (A) holds public workshops for community education and volunteer recruitment;
• (B) trains ombudsman volunteer applicants using the prescribed core training format developed by the Office staff;
• (C) submits to Office staff the name and facility assignment and the original signed Form 02OM003E, Ombudsman Volunteer Application, of each trained volunteer recommended for certification;
• (D) accompanies each newly certified ombudsman volunteer on at least one introductory visit to the assigned facility to reinforce training and ensure the ombudsman volunteer's understanding of the ombudsman role; and
• (E) holds monthly meetings for continued training and supervision of certified ombudsman volunteers to annually achieve a minimum of 18 hours per volunteer of continuing education relevant to the care of older persons and persons with disabilities.