2015 -- S 0553 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE RHODE ISLAND

FAMILY COURT CONVENE A TASK FORCE WITH THE GOAL OF FOCUSING ON

IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS, COORDINATION, COURT SCHEDULING,

PLACEMENT DECISION-MAKING, AND INFORMATION SHARING FOR CHILDREN IN

STATE CARE

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Goldin, Ottiano, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Responsibility for the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable children is

shared across multiple state agencies in Rhode Island, including the Department of Children,

Youth, and Families (DCYF); the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH); the Department of Education; and the Family Court; and

     WHEREAS, Coordinating the care of children served by the state’s child welfare system

can be challenging. Children’s needs vary, different information may be required for decision-

making, and communication systems and timelines can fluctuate. When unaddressed, these

differences can get in the way of children receiving the support they need in their most desperate

hour; and

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

included in its January 2015 final report a recommendation that a task force be established

specifically to focus on the interrelationship among DCYF, the Family Court, and provider

agencies, including health care and education; now, therefore be it

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

hereby respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human

Services and the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Family Court convene a task force whose goal

focuses on improving communications, coordination, court scheduling, placement decision-

making, and information sharing for children in state care; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the task force includes

representatives from BHDDH, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary

Education, the Office of the Child Advocate, and provider organizations; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the task force identifies

policies, processes, and practices that stand in the way of communications, coordination, and the

effective and efficient use of time in placement and care decisions for children in state care; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the Secretary of the

Executive Office of Health and Human Services submits a report from said task force to the

Rhode Island General Assembly on or before January 7, 2016, that details the actions that will be

taken by DCYF and each organization represented on the task force to improve communication,

coordination, and the effective and efficient use of time in placement and care decisions for

children in state care; 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 Secretary of the Executive

Office of Health and Human Services, the Chief Judge of the Family Court, the Acting Director

of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Director of the Department of

Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, the Commissioner of

Education, and the Child Advocate.

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