Lifting Up Children and Families: Child Welfare in the Ocean State

On Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 8 p.m., Rhode Island PBS presents Lifting Up Children and Families: Child Welfare in the Ocean State. In three segments, three different panels examine services provided by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Rhode Island Public Radio health care reporter Kristin Gourlay hosts the one-hour special.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

The first segment focuses on child abuse prevention and community-based resources, with Jamia McDonald, chief strategy officer for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and acting director of DCYF, Rob Archer from Child & Family, and Anne Murphy, a Child Protective Services investigator for DCYF. 

FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

In segment two, the conversation turns to Rhode Island's foster care system and features Lisa Guillette from Foster Forward, and foster parent Mary DiBiase from Providence. Over the years, Mary has supported more than 20 foster children, and adopted six. One of those children, Mary's adopted daughter April Patrick, joins the panel.

THE FUTURE OF CHILD WELFARE

The third segment takes a look at the future of the state's child welfare system. Jamia McDonald returns to the panel, and is joined by Chris Behan from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Rhode Island Kids Count's Elizabeth Burke Bryant.

Between the in-studio segments, foster children will share comments about their experiences in foster care.