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

incoming, the number of home study requests do not reflect the number of children for
which the families (homes) are being studied.
Results from the previous fiscal years in the two tables below show that the
Department has consistently been more active in initiating requests to other states,
compared to the number of requests received, to explore appropriate permanency options.
In fiscal year 2008, ten (10) home study requests made from other states required the
extended period to 75 days or longer to be completed. The reasons for these delays are
attributed to circumstances beyond our control; such as not being able to receive required
forms; parents or other relatives not wanting to cooperate.
Incoming Requests from Other States
Fiscal Number Number Completed Completed Completed Beyond Withdrawn/Pending
Year States Requests in 30 days in 60 Days in 75 Days 75 Days
2007 45 84 59 23 2
2008 45 80 44 23 7 3 3
Requests Made by Rhode Island to Other States
Fiscal Number Number Completed Completed Completed Beyond Withdrawn/Pending
Year States Requests in 30 days in 60 Days in 75 Days 75 Days
2007 87 159 24 37 11 65 22
2008 92 176 22 60 7 65 22
By contrast, the Department has experienced significant delays in having its home
study requests completed by other receiving states. As the second table above shows,
there were a combined total of 76 home study requests in fiscal year 2007 and 72 requests
in 2008 which required the extended period or longer to be completed.
There is not much information to explain the reasons for these delays. In some
cases, it is noted that there was a delay in obtaining needed information; e.g.,
fingerprinting results is the most often cited reason for delay. Circumstances beyond the
control of the other state; e.g., uncooperative relatives is the second most identified
reason. Other reasons have included need for a waiver regarding criminal or CPS history;
caseload/staffing issues; additional information needed from RI to complete the study. It
is also noted that in some situations, there has been a lack of responsiveness on the part of
the receiving state to communicate with DCYF regarding the status of the home study
request. There is no information regarding action that may have been taken by the State
or relevant Federal agency to resolve the need for the extended compliance period.
75