Press Releases

CHILD ADVOCATE REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CHILD FATALITY PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS ON ANNIVERSARY OF CHILD’S DEATH
                                                                         
Wednesday, October 31, 2006
For additional information, contact:
Marianna Almeida (401) 222-6650

(Providence, RI…..October 31, 2006)--Over the past year, the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), an independent state agency statutorily mandated to protect the legal, civil and special rights of children in the custody and care of the state, has been  monitoring the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF),’ implementation of the Child Fatality Review Panel’s recommendations in the In Re T.J. matter.  Today, Jametta O. Alston, Child Advocate issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the death of the three year old child who tragically and brutally died while in placement by DCYF in an unlicensed kinship foster home:

"Today on the second anniversary of the death of the three year old child who tragically and brutally died while in placement by DCYF in an unlicensed kinship foster home, I am releasing a brief report on the status of the effort to implement the the Child Fatality Panel's recommendations," stated Jametta O. Alston, Rhode Island Child Advocate.  "The report notes that DCYF has implemented seven of the recommendations.  DCYF has made clarifications in its policies regarding the placement and removal of children in foster care.  DCYF has purchased a live scan machine enabling DCYF to more efficiently process fingerprint background checks on prospective foster parents.  The Licensing Director is responsible for reviewing criminal records of prospective foster parents and others in the prospective foster home.  DCYF now requires the licensing social worker to follow up with physicians on any ambiguous or adverse information contained in the physician's reference for foster care placement," said Ms. Alston

"However," Ms. Alston added, "the report notes also that DCYF has not succeeded in reducing its caseworker caseloads; revising its kinship training curriculum; adhering to its mandatory staff development policy for supervisors and caseworkers beyond the probationary period; and conducting performance evaluations of DCYF supervisors and social workers.  While I am aware that DCYF continues to work on implementing several of the recommendations, it is alarming that caseloads are rising and staff development and evaluations are not occurring."

 The Child Advocate stated further, "The Office of the Child Advocate believes that the recommendations which have been implemented are contributing to the protection and safety of children in the state's care and that the pending recommendations must be implemented without further delay in the hope that every possible step is taken to ensure the safety of the children in our care."