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

V. Objective: DCYF will implement strategies assuring that all prospective parents have
access to the homestudy process, and that training and recruitment are regionally-based.
The adoption application has been modified to be more inclusive. The terms “parent one” and
“parent two” have been substituted for “husband” and “wife,” providing greater openness to
alternative family styles. Child centered, culturally sensitive language has been included. For
more than a decade, the Department has supported adoption by non-traditional families, holding
recruitment events aimed specifically at these families. Information/recruitment meetings include
specific information regarding single and gay/lesbian adoptions. The Department has been
successful in promoting the formation of support groups among these families.
Despite the fact that Rhode Island is small in size, it is important to try and reach individuals in
their home regions. Adoption information meetings are currently being held in two areas of the
state. This provides easier access for families, and allows for the possibility of a more expedient
response to interested families. Cox Cable, reaching a state-wide audience, regularly advertises
Adoption RI’s information meetings as part of their public service announcements. The cable
network has also spotlighted panel discussions/presentations of adoption topics throughout the
year. Rhode Island’s most prominent television station, Channel 10, promotes “Tuesday’s Child”
on a weekly basis to its audience throughout the Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Clinical Training Specialists work on flexible schedules in order to meet the needs of working
parents. Training is offered in the evenings and on Saturdays with home visits scheduled to the
needs of the families. Individual at-home or on-site preparation can be done in order to meet
special circumstances. At the present time, 3 Clinical Training Specialists lead Adoption
Preparation Groups.
Approximately 80% of DCYF adoptions are foster parent/kinship adoptions. In order to offer
further support to these resource families, a curriculum is now offered which deals specifically
with the issues of moving from fostering to adoption and with open adoption issues.
Responsibility for Foster Parent training was moved in 2000 to the unit that was already providing
training to Adoptive and Visiting Resource families. This move has proven to be effective in
maximizing the use of staff time and in offering a continuum of training and support opportunities
to all resource families. Dual training of Foster and Adoptive families was instituted in January,
2002. Dual training emphasizes the continuum of care, and demonstrates the importance of all
resource providers. It supports families in their chosen role, providing them with the information
they need at the present and that they will/may need in the future as their role changes.
In an effort to improve permanency outcomes for children and youth in state care, the Department
established Permanency Support Teams which are regionally-based. The teams are led by staff
from the Adoption & Foster Care Preparation and Support Unit. Other team members include staff
from DCYF’s Adoption Services Unit, Real Connections, Adoption Rhode Island, Casey Family
Services and other community agencies. The work of the teams is promoting, developing and
supporting a range of permanency outcomes for our children and youth. The teams operate
through a supportive, consultative model in assisting the Family Service Workers in clarifying
permanency goals and overcoming barriers to permanency.
R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families
Title IV-B Child and Family Service Plan – 2010 - 2014
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