2025 -- S 0564
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LC002149
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DCYF FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT COMPLIANCE AND IMPACT REPORT
Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Rogers, Paolino, Burke, and Quezada
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 42-72-36.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72 entitled 1
"Department of Children, Youth and Families" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
42-72-36.3. Reporting. 3
(a) Annual reports showing progress in residential-care system reform and rebalancing 4
shall be submitted by April 1, 2017, and annually thereafter on or before April 1 of each year by 5
the department to the finance committees of both the senate and the house of representatives and 6
shall include: 7
(1) The number of congregate-care placements and associated funds; 8
(2) The number of foster-care placements and associated funds; 9
(3) The percentage of screenings completed within thirty (30) days of placement; 10
(4) Recommendations to promote the expansion of foster homes and community-based 11
service capacity, including payment methodology reforms, that increase access to foster homes and 12
community-based services; and 13
(5) Recommendations for options to pay for certain services and supports necessary to 14
transition or divert children from restrictive settings and optimize their health and safety when 15
receiving care in a home or the community. 16
(b) The department shall, no later than January 1, 2026, submit a report to the governor, 17
speaker of the house and president of the senate on the department's progress and accomplishments 18
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in compliance with the family first prevention services act, Pub. L. 115-123 (“FFPSA”). The report 1
shall assess the impact of evidence-based programs (“EBPs”) conducted in compliance with the 2
FFPSA and analyze the department's success in keeping children out of the foster care system. The 3
report shall be made publicly available on the DCYF website, and shall include, but not be limited 4
to: 5
(1) A detailed account of the increase in the availability of EBPs to high-risk families 6
through the FFPSA, including the number of families served and a breakdown of the specific types 7
of EBPs available; 8
(2) The number of families identified as high risk for out-of-home placement prior to 9
participation in an EBP who are now no longer considered high risk following their participation 10
in the program, including any follow-up data on the continued stability of these families; 11
(3) Data on families that were reunified, comparing the amount of time it took for 12
reunification efforts to succeed for families that participated in EBPs funded through the FFPSA to 13
those families that did not have access to or did not participate in EBPs. The report should also 14
identify any patterns or trends in the timing and success of reunifications between the two (2) 15
groups; and 16
(4) Any other information deemed relevant by the department in evaluating the success or 17
effectiveness of EBPs associated with FFPSA. 18
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 19
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DCYF FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT COMPLIANCE AND IMPACT REPORT
***
This act would require DCYF to submit a one-time, detailed report on the effectiveness of 1
evidence-based programs associated with the family first prevention services act in keeping 2
children out of foster care, providing valuable data on the programs' impact on high-risk families, 3
reunification outcomes, and program availability. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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