Testimony is expected Tuesday before the House Finance Committee on Governor Gina Raimondo’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget for the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families.
The child-welfare agency was the subject of two scathing reports last year, by the Office of the State Child Advocate, for its handling of cases involving children who were seriously injured or died in its care.
Source: State Budget Office
Note: Fiscal 2018 and 2019 are the governor’s recommended budgets. Fiscal 2018 includes $6.7 million in supplemental funds to cover DCYF’s mid-year shortfall.
One of those planning to testify at Tuesday’s hearing is David Caprio, the CEO of non-profit Children’s Friend, Rhode Island’s oldest child welfare organization. (He is not the former state representative by the same name.) Caprio, 48, of Smithfield, spoke with Rhode Island Public Radio’s health reporter, Lynn Arditi. He said he worries that underfunding the agency could place more children at risk.
R.I. Children Abused and Neglected
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
fatalities 3 3 2 3 5 3
near-fatalities 0 0 1 0 11 12
note: prior to 2016 DCYF only reported fatalities and near-fatalities of children under the agency’s care or supervision.
Source: DCYF
