An independent report on Rhode Island's child welfare agency has found serious shortcomings.
The Providence Journal reports that the Public Consulting Group Inc. report found that the Department of Children, Youth and Families failed to meet the target outcomes in 12 of 20 performance areas. The report covers the second half of 2018.
The agency scored well in placing children in foster homes and keeping others out of group housing, but scored low in areas such as developing child treatment plans and encouraging foster sibling visits and family reunifications.
The draft report is a result of a settlement in a decade-long federal lawsuit over systemic failures within the department. The settlement allows for independent monitoring of agency operations.
An agency spokeswoman declined comment, saying the report is in the draft stage.
