Press Releases

OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE AND THE CHILD FATALITY PANEL
RELEASES INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON DEATH OF CHILD

Media advisory
Contact: Jametta O. Alston
Phone: 401-222-6650
www.child-advocate.ri.gov

Office of the Child Advocate and the Child Fatality Panel
Releases investigative report on death of child

The Office of the Child Advocate and the Child Fatality Panel releases its findings regarding the death of a child in the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families care.

What:                           Report of the Child Fatality Panel
When:                          Monday, October 31 at 1:50 p.m.
Where:                        
Who:                            Jametta O. Alston, Esq., Office of the Child Advocate
                                    Senator Leo R. Blais, Panel Member
                                    Terese Curtin, MFSU SW, Panel Member
                                    Jan Dion Fontes, LICFSU SW, Panel Member
                                    Major John J. Leyden, Jr., Panel Member
                                    Terrie Maihot, MD, Panel Member
                                    Diane Martell, Panel Member
                                    Catherine B. Walsh, MPH, Panel Member                   
           
The murder of the child who was in the custody of the state shook the system to its core but also eroded the public’s confidence in the state’s ability to care for its most vulnerable citizens.  If there are systemic failures that contributed to this tragedy, they need to be identified and corrected as soon as possible.  Accordingly, The Office of the Child Advocate accorded this matter the highest priority, thus the presentation of this report on the anniversary of the death of the child.

The Office of the Child Advocate, pursuant to its statutory duties, has completed its investigation into the events surrounding a child’s placement into a home where he was beaten to death.  With the assistance of the Child Fatality Panel Members, a panel of professionals, an independent and impartial review has been finished.  The purposes of this review were to investigate the specific circumstances of this child’s case, including his placement in this home and the events leading up to his death; to examine the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (hereinafter “DCYF”) policies and practices regarding the assessment and placement of children in kinship care; to identify larger system’s issues which may have impacted the care of this child; to make recommendations for improvements and change and to set deadlines for the recommendations to be implemented by DCYF. 

The panel has reviewed all relevant records, taken sworn testimony of witnesses and consulted with others whose expertise may assist the panel in its deliberations.  A public document has been prepared and will be sent to the Governor and the General Assembly and copies are available to the general public.