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

Adoption Promotion and Support -
Funding through Title IV-B, part 1 supports the work of the Rhode Island Foster
Parents’ Association which works closely with the Department and the Rhode Island Council of
Resource Providers (RICORP) to provide training, education and support for foster and adoptive
families. The IV-B, part 2 funds also support the recruitment and training efforts of the Urban
League of Rhode Island, which is contracted to assist the Department in recruiting and
supporting families interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. The Adoption Promotion
and Support program through Children’s Friend and Service is also supported with funding
through Title IV-B, part 1. This contract provides preparation and post adoption support
services that include 24/7 crisis intervention availability by phone, education and support
groups, case management, counseling and respite. The Department, working with Adoption
Rhode Island, has established a permanency team function in the Regions which is assisting
social caseworkers in developing recruitment plans for children with a goal of adoption,
assisting with case record research to identify potential family connections and resources; and,
provide supportive guidance to address barriers for foster parents interested in adopting. This
activity is supported through IV-B, part 1 funding.
The Partners in Permanency program, referenced above, bridges the categories for
family support and adoption promotion/support. The services that are provided focus on
concurrent planning and provide both biological and foster/pre-adoptive families necessary
support for permanency planning that is in the best interest of the child. The funding for this
program is evenly apportioned between the two categories.
MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT -
The Department of Children, Youth and Families continues to demonstrate a strong
maintenance of effort in its expenditures for child and family services. In FY 1992, as the base
year, the DCYF allocated approximately $3.4-million on community-based programs to assist
families who were at risk of becoming involved with the Department. In fiscal year 2007, the
Department continued to exceed its base year expenditures, allocating an estimated $8.7-million
for ongoing family support and preservation services. The majority of the funding, $5.3 million
(61%), funded family support services such as parent aides, parent education, and early
intervention-type programming which assists vulnerable families with children in age ranges
from birth to three and older. These services also provide necessary care and intervention for
families whose children are experiencing behavioral challenges and may be at risk for out-ofhome
placement.
Additionally, the Department expended 39% of its funding to provide crisis intervention
type programming such as Comprehensive Emergency Services, Youth Diversion and Outreach
and Tracking services. Looking ahead to the coming year, the funding for some of these
programs will be dedicated to the operation of the Family Care Community Partnerships. These
programs are designed to prevent out-of-home placement, and maintain the family integrity
without formally becoming involved with the Department where possible. An estimated 36% of
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