PROVIDENCE – A comprehensive report on the safety and well-being of children in the care of the R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families was presented by Rhode Island Kids Count on Nov. 3.
The report, “Safety, Permanency and Well-Being for Children in the Care of DCYF,” provided a comprehensive look at DCYF efforts. As of Aug. 31,
- 6,989 Rhode Island children had open cases at DCYF.
- 2,250 children were living at home under DCYF supervision.
- 2,086 children were in out-of home placement.
- 35 children were in out-of-state placements.
- 20 children were in other placements.
- 2,618 children had been living in subsidized adoption placements.
“DCYF, Family Court and the many partner agencies that provide services have come a long way in recent years,” said Elizabeth Burke Bryant, executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count. “Continuing to increase access to support services, decreasing the amount of time children are in care and providing the least restrictive environment possible will help our state’s most vulnerable children to maximize their potential.”
Over the last several years, the number of children in out-of-home placements in Rhode Island declined, according to John Neubauer, policy analyst Rhode Island Kids Count:
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- As of Aug. 31, 2011, there were 2,086 children under age 21 in the care of DCYF who were in out-of-home placements, a 37 percent decrease from Dec. 31, 2006.
- Between Dec. 31, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2011, the number of children in out-of-home placement fell 9 percent, from 2,293 to 2,086.
- Between Dec. 31, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2011, there was a 21 percent decrease in the number of children in residential facilities.
“There’s definitely been a shift in the philosophy at DCYF,” Neubaurer said. The agency, he continued, “has been successful in reducing the number of kids in out-of-home placement.” Neubaurer said that given the significant decrease in DCYF’s budget over the last two years, there is concern about having enough resources to support the ongoing networks of care.
Providing evidence-based, intensive family support programs to strengthen and stabilize at-risk families will continue to reduce the need for out-of-home placements, according to Bryant. In addition, improving access to high-quality childhood education, parenting education, education and training programs to help families increase economic security, and provide treatment services for substance abuse and mental health problems will help to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of child abuse and neglect.
