| R 138 |
| 2015 -- S 0485 Enacted 03/19/2015 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
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| LC001310 |
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