New Settlement A 'Roadmap' For Improving Rhode Island DCYF: AG

PROVIDENCE, RI — Twelve years after 3-year-old Thomas "T.J." Wright was beaten to death while in the custody of his aunt and her live-in boyfriend, Rhode Island has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged systemic abuse and neglect of the nearly 2,000 children cared for by the state. The deal was announced on Monday by state officials and the nonprofit advocacy group Children's Rights.

Under the terms of the agreement — which still has to be approved by a federal judge — the Department of Children, Youth and Families would have to satisfy numerous new requirements:

• DCYF would no longer be allowed to place children in short-term shelters
• DCYF would put children in group homes or residential treatment centers only when that level of care was necessary
• DCYF would try to place siblings together
• Caseworkers would have to visit children at least once a month

The agreement also establishes assessment requirements and would create a system to track parent-child visits. Furthermore, the state would develop recruiting and retention plans for foster families, reassess base rates for foster care maintenance payments and meet other requirements.

Rhode Island's child advocate and an independent expert will review the state's progress. The child advocate will determine whether the state is meetings its obligations under the terms of the deal.

Both sides hailed the settlement, with Democratic Attorney General Peter Kilmartin saying it puts the well-being and safety of children first. Sara Bartosz, of Children's Rights, applauded Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo and Department of Children, Youth and Families Director Trista Piccola for entering into what she called a historic agreement.

"On behalf of the children we represent, we are gratified that all parties have come to the table with the vital purpose of transforming young lives," Bartosz said.

Kilmartin said the agreement would create measurable targets and "serve as a roadmap for the improvement of DCYF and its care of children."

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