CFSP 5 Year Plan - RI Department of Children, Youth & Families

II. Objective: The Department of Children, Youth and Families will ensure a timely search
for an adoptive placement for a waiting child while providing that placement of a child
in an appropriate household is not delayed by the search for the same race or ethnic
placement.
DCYF continues to maintain and expand its data base of waiting families. DCYF children are
registered with appropriate exchanges, including Adoption Rhode Island, AdoptUSKids, both
private and contracted agencies and regional exchanges. Exchanges have expanded their services
to include websites and these resources are also being utilized in our efforts to place waiting
children. In order to assure that all professionals working to promote adoptive resources are kept
abreast of updates, a review of Waiting Families and Waiting Children is conducted every six
weeks with DCYF’s Adoption Preparation and Support Unit, Adoption RI and other contracted
providers.
Clinical Training Specialists are available for case consultations on an ongoing basis. At the
present time, telephone consultations occur on an almost daily basis, and staff are always available
to set up consultations regarding specific cases and/or issues. In addition, Adoption Preparation
and Support staff hold regularly scheduled meetings in the various Regional offices. These
meetings afford an opportunity for FSU staff to bring cases and issues for discussion on a less
formal basis, and will also provide a forum for training FSU staff and supervisors on adoption
issues and procedures.
In conjunction with Adoption RI, DCYF continues to conduct child specific recruitment on a caseby-case
basis, utilizing television, newspapers and other methods to locate homes for specific
children. Some of the children who might need this type of recruitment include physically
challenged children. In addition to recruiting homes for these children, DCYF will also conduct
individual training and home studies to further facilitate the placement of these children.
Permanent connections for children may also be achieved through a Visiting Resource Program.
Our Department in collaboration with the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association, Casey Family
Services and RICORP has established the Real Connections program. Real Connections pairs
caring adults with youth in transition from substitute care with the goal of providing an adult
connection who can assist the youth in this transition period and also remain as a caring adult as
the youth moves into the adult world.
Families who are matched for the initial purpose of visiting with a child, may consider adoption of
the child in the future or may continue as a valuable resource and support to a family who comes
forward to adopt the child. Approximately 25% of Visiting Resource Families go on to become
Adoptive Resources for the children whom they visit.
III. Objective: DCYF will implement specific strategies in order to reach all parties in a
diverse community.
Advertising is crucial to recruitment efforts. DCYF staff in conjunction with Adoption Rhode
Island make regular television and radio appearances to inform members of minority populations
of events and recruitment activities such as regular information meetings.
R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families
Title IV-B Child and Family Service Plan – 2010 - 2014
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