2023 -- H 5102

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH AND FAMILIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Noret, Vella-Wilkinson, Roberts, Solomon,
Kislak, Chippendale, Serpa, Spears, and Cotter

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-72-5.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72 entitled "Department

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of Children, Youth and Families" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-72-5.3. Accreditation.

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     (a) The standards set by the Council on Accreditation (COA) are nationally recognized as

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best practices for protecting and providing services to abused and neglected children;

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     (b) Achieving and maintaining these standards requires a solid commitment from the

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legislative, executive and judicial branches of government;

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     (c) It is the intent of the general assembly to provide the resources for the department of

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children, youth and families to meet, achieve and sustain accreditation by the Council on

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Accreditation;

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     (d) The department of children, youth and families (the "department") shall initiate the

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process for seeking COA accreditation no later than September 1, 2019, and shall submit an

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accreditation plan to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the

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senate, the chairperson of the house committee on health, education and welfare, the chairperson

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of the senate committee on health and human services, the chairpersons of the finance committees

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of the house and senate, and to the chairpersons of the judiciary committees of the house and senate

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no later than October 1, 2020. Said plan shall include, at a minimum, the following:

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     (1) Inputs, including updated staffing requirements, a timetable for achieving those

 

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requirements, and any additional costs associated with achieving accreditation;

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     (2) Outcomes, including an assessment based on statistical and other evidence, of the

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impact of accreditation on the number of abused and neglected children, the nature of their abuse,

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and the relationships between such children and their families.

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     (e) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 15].

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     (f) Caseloads for department workers.

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     (1) Regardless of the status of COA accreditation, the department shall apply general

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caseload limits for department workers in a manner similar to those contained in COA caseload

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standards for public agencies. More specifically, caseloads for workers shall support the

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achievement of child and family outcomes, shall be regularly reviewed, and generally shall not

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exceed the following:

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     (i) Twelve (12) active investigations at a time, including no more than eight (8) new

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investigations per month;

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     (ii) Fourteen (14) families receiving ongoing in-home services;

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     (iii) Twelve (12) children in out-of-home care, and their families; and

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     (iv) Eight (8) children in treatment foster care, and their families.

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     (2) By “generally,” it is understood that there may be circumstances under which caseloads

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may exceed these limits, such as when the department is faced with temporary staff vacancies or

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when administrative case functions are assigned to other personnel; however, the department shall

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make all efforts to meet the caseload numbers set forth in this subsection.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH AND FAMILIES

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     This act would establish general caseload limits for DCYF workers similar to those

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contained in the Council on Accreditation standards.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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