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June 29, 2007

DCYF allegations 'extremely' concern Carcieri

PROVIDENCE -- A day after a lawsuit became public alleging children in state foster care are being burned with cigarettes, beaten, molested, and in one instance, killed, Governor Carcieri's office this afternoon issued a statement saying he was "extremely concerned over the allegations of abuse."

But Carcieri also defended steps taken by his administration, saying in the statement that some information in the lawsuit "may be outdated and fails to take into account the reforms that have been made under Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) Director Patricia Martinez."

“Any case of abuse involving children is extremely upsetting to me, which is why I take this lawsuit very seriously. Children who are placed in foster care are extremely vulnerable, and we have worked very hard since I took office to ensure that their needs are met,” Carcieri said in the statement. “We have instituted a number of reforms within DCYF that are making a difference, but are not reflected in the lawsuit.”

The suit says Rhode Island was the nation's worst in the number of children abused and neglected while in state foster-care custody between 2000 and 2005.

The lawsuit was announced yesterday morning while the governor was in Newport for scheduled events that included greeting President Bush during his visit to the Naval War College, a meeting with Republican political donors at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Goat Island, and a clambake at Fort Adams State Park.

Carcieri has refused interview requests from The Journal today.

Carcieri, who was elected in 2002, said he would meet with Child Advocate Jametta O. Alston -- who is suing Carcieri, the governor who appointed her to the post -- on Monday. He said they will talk about the suit and ways to "improve the lines of communications between her office and the Governor’s office, [the Department of Children, Youth and Families], and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services."

The child advocate's suit is being assisted by a national group Children's Rights that has gotten involved in similar cases around the country.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:12 PM | Permalink

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Matt D. | June 29, 2007 11:55 PM link

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