Children To Be Urgently Moved From RI Children's Home: Reports

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — In the wake of a state report claiming instances of abuse, neglect, and other dysfunction at North Providence's St. Mary's Home for Children, children are set to be removed from the facility after an urgent Department of Children, Youth, and Families meeting Thursday, according to multiple outlets.

The state report, released in early January by the Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate and detailed in media outlets including the Boston Globe, alleged "countless violations" by the home, which was founded in 1877 as an orphanage but now offers housing, clinical services, and instruction for children — and more recently, adults — experiencing psychiatric illness, sexual abuse and trafficking, and special education challenges.

After an eight-month investigation, which was sparked by a trove of complaints from children, their families, and the home's staff, was made public, the home's executive director Carlene Casciano-McCann abruptly retired, the Globe reported earlier this year.

The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families, had already stopped placing kids in custody at St. Mary's after the concerns, which also included staff drug use and children running away, were revealed, according to WJAR.

In the months since, the home's new head Dr. Charles Montorio-Archer claimed security upgrades were made and staff were better monitored and trained, and just days ago, nonprofit Tides Family Services was announced to be taking over program operations, the outlet added.

A spokesperson for Rhode Island DCYF only told WJAR that 'a transition plan for any or all of the 10 children is ongoing.'

However, according to an email from DCYF obtained by the Globe, DCYF is proposing that the children who cannot reunite with their families be moved into foster homes or congregate care programs.

Patch reached out to the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families for more information.