10 Babies Dead in RI in 26 Months, 2 New Near Deaths & Little Outrage
Monday, April 17, 2017
Twenty children were recently killed in Syria in a deadly gas attack. The images of the dead children sparked President Donald Trump to launch 59 Tomahawk missiles at a key military airport in response to the killings. Nearly 90 percent of Americans supported the American military response.
In Rhode Island, ten babies all under 18-months old, have died in the past 26 months, and at a recent State House hearing, it was disclosed by the state’s Child Advocate that two new “near deaths” are now under investigation. The disclosure was made during a House Finance sub-committee meeting in which most of the subcommittees members were missing for the majority of the meeting.
For long segments during the sub-committee hearing, only Chair Teresa Tanzi was in attendance. This hearing was just the latest in a series that reviewed the deaths.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor those who have seen the recent legislative hearings reviewing the Child Advocate’s report, emotion and outrage have been void in the discussion. The dialogue between legislators reviewing the deaths with state bureaucrats often sounded more like the narrative between cartoon characters Chip ’n’ Dale — “after you, no-no, after you.”
Raimondo Administration - Under Staffing and More Budget Cuts
Thursday’s hearing unveiled the massive under staffing at DCYF. More than 110 positions have been funded -- but have been unfilled -- according to House Fiscal Advisor Sharon Reynolds Ferland. “I think the committee should be asking about the staffing gaps,” said Reynolds Ferland.
The department’s funding has been consistent over the past five years, but the Raimondo administration has failed to fill key staff positions. DCYF was funded in this year’s budget at 629 positions, but the Raimondo administration thru April 1 has staffed the agency at 517 positions — 112 positions vacant.
By contrast, filled positions in July, 2011 totalled 616.
Trista Piccola, the Director of DCYF congratulated the Governor and her Department for their performance in her opening remarks and made no mention of the number of deaths or the recent “near deaths” that are now being investigated.
Child Advocate Jennifer Griffith said that for the first few months she was in her position, there were only three staffers including an administrative staffer.
“If that is not an alarm bell I don’t know what is,” said Tanzi.
Child Advocate Report on Deaths
OCA MDT Review of Cases, page 3: "In 2015 there were six children whose deaths came to the attention of the Department. Five of the children were in the care of the Department of Children Youth and Families at the time of their deaths." 2015-- January 2015 to December 2015--12 months.
Final OCA Child Fatality Review Panel Report, page 6: "The Child Fatality Review Panel reviewed six cases between Oct 12, 2016 and March 1, 2017. Four of the cases involved a child fatality and two involved near-fatalities as defined by {Statute citation}. All six families were known by DCYF sure to previous Child Protective Services reports or prior case openings." January 2016-December 2016 --12 months January 1, 2017 -March 1, 2017--2 months.
Related Slideshow: Winners and Losers in Raimondo’s FY18 Budget Proposal
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