Highlighting an urgent need for more foster families, Gov. Gina Raimondo on Thursday announced plans for what she described as a first-of-its-kind foster family training retreat in March aimed at speeding up the foster family licensing process.
Highlighting an urgent need for more foster families, Gov. Gina Raimondo on Thursday announced plans for what she described as a first-of-its-kind foster family training retreat aimed at speeding up the foster family licensing process.
The retreat — an effort to quickly find homes for 250 children in group homes who the Department of Children Youth and Families has determined should be in family settings — will be made possible through a $70,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation and a $25,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The 30-hour training process for prospective foster families typically takes place over 10 weeks. Some families have called the process time-consuming and burdensome. The retreat, which will take place from March 9-11 and can accommodate up to 200 families, will account for 16 to 20 hours of the training process.
Plans to fast-track licensing were coupled with the governor's announcement that she will include $1.4 million in the upcoming budget to increase the daily reimbursement rates for foster families. Raimondo's complete fiscal 2019 budget will be released Jan. 18. She said the funding increase is an attempt to send a "strong signal" that the state is serious about improving outcomes for children.
"We have to commit ourselves to make sure every kid grows up in a safe, loving environment and not in poverty," Raimondo said. "If we do one thing right as a state, it's that."
The state has been steadily working to reduce the use of group homes and other residential-care settings, but concern has been raised that there are not enough foster families in the state's pipeline.
Teddy Savas, deputy director of the DCYF, said the idea for the retreat weekend came from current foster families who went through the 10-week program. DCYF is currently working with its partner agencies to design the retreat, which will take place at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
"We simply have to make it easier for families to give these youngsters a safe place to call home. The benefits of ensuring that they have stable, caring foster homes will ripple through their lives forever," said Neil Steinberg, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.
DCYF will gauge the success of the retreat and decide whether the program should continue by tracking how many families who attend become fully licensed, said DCYF spokeswoman Kerri White.
For more information on the retreat and becoming a foster parent, call (401) 952-0262 or visit www.dcyf.ri.gov/anchor.
— jbogdan@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7493
On Twitter: @JenniferBogdan