Child & Family Services: Governor, Honor The Deal You Made

By Marty Sinnott, president and chief executive officer

January 22, 2018

Re: Governor’s budget targets residential providers

Dear Patch:

Governor Raimondo and DCYF have proposed a “voluntary” cut of 12% in current residential treatment reimbursement

rates for traumatized youth and a $4.4 million reduction in residential treatment funding for the new fiscal year. The

Governor and her administration apparently have forgotten the fact that these rates were negotiated less than a year ago,

in part due to new licensing regulations that she implemented. These cuts will threaten our ability to provide safe care

for these traumatized youth.

Child & Family has been a leader in Rhode Island in protecting children and strengthening families for 151 years.

Through the dedication of our Board, volunteers, staff and great foster parents, for the first time in our history we serve

more children in foster homes than in group homes. Child & Family has led these reforms as we have cut in half the

number of youth served in group homes over the past five years. Responsible government contracting will enable us to

continue these reforms.

We urge the Governor to honor rate changes that her administration agreed to last year. Selective memory and

misplaced blame will not save money or improve the child welfare system.