Final Report - RI Department of Children, Youth & Families

CHAPTER 3: STRENGTHENING DCYF
This internal analytic capacity provides the data necessary to target services and
resources, measure outcomes, and lead improvements. These measures include
collecting and reviewing data regarding whether each child is in the most integrated
setting appropriate and, for each child who is not in such a setting, evaluating whether
there is a plan to move each such child to such a setting at a reasonable pace. The
CSRPC is the Senior Executive Team’s resource for validating information and
anecdotal reports and supports their ability to consistently focus on strategic plan
implementation and performance indicators in the face of a daily barrage of
unanticipated events. This office is invaluable to central office and regional managers
alike.
7. DCYF should continue its efforts to reform the RI Training School through the
construction of a new facility, the implementation of the Resocialization Model,
the implementation of gender-specific programming for females, and the
finalization and implementation of a sentencing and sanctioning advisory process
for DCYF to provide the Family Court with more individual and specific
assessments and recommendations.
Each of these reform components except for the construction of the new facility and
the implementation of gender-specific programming were identified as
recommendations in the report of the Governor’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice
Reform 14 . The construction of the new facility is supported by the Governor and the
General Assembly provided its’ support through the passage of 2001-R-340 Joint
Resolution Approving The Financing Of A New Training School For Youth At The
Pastore Center In Cranston. DCYF is finalizing work with the National Council on
Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) in regard to the development of risk assessment and
structured decision-making tools which will allow DCYF to provide more informed
recommendations to the Family Court in regard to sentencing decisions. DCYF is also
entering into a contract with the Texas Youth Commission in regard to implementing
the Resocialization Model at the Training School. The Resocialization Model provides
state of the art assessments of strengths, risks, and needs of juvenile offenders with
case plans that emphasize personal responsibility, increase freedom in phases based on
achieving individualized measurable goals and objectives, holds youthful offenders
accountable for their offenses, and requires youth to demonstrate sustained
competencies.
Finally, DCYF is collaborating with the RIJC through a contract with Core Associates
to assess the level of gender-specific programming for females at the Young Women’s
Unit and recommend enhancements; develop and implement comprehensive staff
training in regard to gender-specific practice; and guide essential program development
for female residents
$ State leaders should support the plan provided by DCYF to the Joint
Legislative Commission to Study an Enhanced Role for Probation and Parole
14 Stopping Youth Violence: Rhode Island’s Response to the Crisis Facing Our Youth: Final Report, (July
1997). Providence, RI: Department of Children, Youth and Families. See Recommendation 1, Strategy 1 p. 19;
Recommendation 1, Strategy 2, p. 20; Recommendation 1, Strategy 3, p. 20; and Recommendation 3, Strategy 1,
p. 27; Recommendation 3, Strategy 2, p. 28.
System of Care Task Force Report (January 2003) 34