2015 -- S 0485

========

LC001310

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR CONVENE THE CHILDREN'S

CABINET AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING OUTCOMES

FOR RHODE ISLAND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED BY MULTIPLE STATE

PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Goldin, Satchell, Ottiano, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, The well-being of the state’s most vulnerable children is supported through

the actions of multiple state agencies and the work of dedicated care providers in a variety of

organizations. At times, the different schedules, need for different information, and expectations

for responsiveness can vary across all of the entities, factors that can get in the way of children

receiving the services they need during the most trying of times in their lives; and

     WHEREAS, Coordinating the contributions of all of the organizations that support

children in our state's care goes beyond the authority and responsibility of any single agency

director. Ensuring children’s well-being requires the active involvement of multiple directors

who simultaneously engage in conversation and decision-making; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Law 42-72.5 established the Governor’s Children’s

Cabinet and populated it with top ranked decision-makers at state agencies. This law requires the

Children’s Cabinet to meet on a monthly basis to address all issues, especially those that cross

departmental lines, and relate to children’s needs and services; and

     WHEREAS, The Senate Task Force on DCYF and the Family Care Networks Contracts

included in its January 2015 final report a recommendation that the Governor convene the

Children’s Cabinet to address the shortcomings in the state’s child welfare system; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the Governor convenes the Children’s Cabinet as soon as

practicable with the goal of improving outcomes for children and families served by multiple

state programs and departments; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Director of the Department of

Children, Youth, and Families, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human

Services, the Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities,

and Hospitals, the Commissioner of Education, and the Chief Judge of the Family Court.

========

LC001310

========

LC001310 - Page 2 of 2