* In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, the Department of Children, Youth and Families is advertising for promulgation an amended rule, Obtaining Custody of Child Through the Dependent/ Neglected/Abused Petition.   Please refer to the Memo to Interested Parties for additional information. The proposed rule is also accessible through the RI Secretary of State’s Proposed Rules and Regulations Database Search http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* The following amended and repealed DCYF rules are effective April 26th, 2012. Please refer to the Interested Parties Memo for additional information. You may click this link to see the amended and repealed DCYF rules. These rules are also accessible through the Secretary of State's Rules and Regulations Search Interface http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* The Department has completed the 3rd quarter Program Improvement Plan report and submitted it to our federal partners on March 27, 2012 for review and approval. The department has successfully completed all the benchmarks for action step 2.3: Improve use of kinship placements through Casey Peer T/A process.

The Q3 Report also includes the National Standards Measurement Plan and Quarterly Status Report, as well as, the Item-Specific and Quantitative Measurement Plan and Quarterly Status Report. Click here to view the PIP Quarter 3 Report.

* In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, the Department of Children, Youth and Families is advertising for promulgation an amended rule, Mental Health Emergency Service Interventions for Children, Youth and Families.   Please refer to the Memo to Interested Parties for additional information. The proposed rule is also accessible through the RI Secretary of State’s Proposed Rules and Regulations Database Search http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* You are invited to attend the Spring Show of the New Hope Art Gallery at the Thomas C. Slater Training School on Tuesday, Mar. 20th, 2012 from 5 PM - 7:30 PM.   Click here to view the flyer.

* AM I ELIGIBLE FOR MONEY FOR COLLEGE OR A TRADE SCHOOL?: DCYF is excited to announce the availability of the DCYF Post Secondary Education Tuition Assistance Program (PETAP) for the 2012-13 academic year (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013). Applications must be received by June 1, 2012 to be considered for an award. To learn more....

* Chief Judge Haiganush R. Bedrosian hosted the conference "The Family Court, DCYF and the Schools: Putting Children First" on January 26-27, 2012. DCYF Deputy Director Kevin J. Aucoin and Assistant to the Director Mike Burk presented DCYF's perspective on how to improve educational outcomes for children and youth involved with DCYF. You can view their presentations in either PDF or Powerpoint.

* The Department submitted its second quarterly PIP report to the Children’s Bureau on December 30th. The PIP contains five overall strategies and eight action steps. The Action Steps are:

Action Step 1.1: Formalize concurrent planning/ permanency goals in practice
Action Step 2.1: Strategically utilize Permanency Support Teams (PST)
Action Step 2.2: Establish a process for coordinated case reviews
Action Step 2.3: Improve use of kinship placements through Casey Peer T/A process
Action Step 2.4: Improve notice and opportunity to be heard for foster parents
Action Step 3.1: Implement consistent supervisory practice model.
Action Step 4.1: Implement Family Team Meetings
Action Step 5.1: Increase the availability and individualization of services

Each Action Step contains a number of benchmarks that need to be accomplished before the Action Step is considered to be completed. The PIP contains 41 benchmarks, of which the Department has accomplished 18 by the end of the second quarter.

Click the link to view the PIP Quarter 2 Report.

* The following amended and repealed DCYF rules are effective December 09, 2011. Please refer to the Interested Parties Memo for additional information. You may click this link to see the amended and repealed DCYF rules. These rules are also accessible through the Secretary of State's Rules and Regulations Search Interface http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* The following amended and repealed DCYF rules are effective November 01, 2011. Please refer to the Interested Parties Memo for additional information. You may click this link to see the amended and repealed DCYF rules. These rules are also accessible through the Secretary of State's Rules and Regulations Search Interface http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* The following new, amended and repealed DCYF rules are effective October 20, 2011. These rules were advertised for promulgation in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (Title 42, Chapter 35 of the Rhode Island General Laws). Please refer to the Interested Parties Memo for additional information. You may click this link to see the new, amended and repealed DCYF rules. These rules are also accessible through the Secretary of State's Rules and Regulations Search Interface http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, the Department of Children, Youth and Families is advertising for promulgation the amended and repealed rules. Please refer to the Interested Parties Memo for additional information. You may click this link to see the proposed DCYF rules. These rules are also accessible through the Secretary of State's Rules and Regulations Search Interface http://www.sec.state.ri.us/ProposedRules/.

* The following Emergency Rule - Clearance of Agency Activity has been filed with the Secretary of State and will remain in force for 120 days. Click this link to view the DCYF Clearance Request-Results - Facility (DCYF-035A) form.