Rhode Island Parental Placements
Rhode Island conducts the following types of home studies:
- Relative Care
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Parent Care
- Foster- Adopt
- Adoption
Relative care would be considered as a REG 7 only; family must then proceed to become licensed but placement could occur interimly if approved at this level
Custodial Parent - Reunification
If child has been removed from the parent, Rhode Island requires a home study evaluation before reunification:
Non-Custodial Parents
Placements with non-custodial parents are not subject to the ICPC if:
-
A court does not have evidence before it that such parent is unfit
-
Does not seek such evidence
-
Does not retain jurisdiction over the child after the court transfers the child
Proof of Paternity Required for Placement with Paternal Relative:
- Yes: Father's name appears on the child’s birth certificate, if the father has admitted paternity in a court of proper jurisdiction, or if the father has signed an affidavit for DCYF or DHS.
Regulation 7 Priority Placement
Rhode Island performs priority placements:
Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study)
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
Rhode Island determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:
Date received and processed by compact administrator (Rhode Island has a one person office).
Mailing Process - Interstate Home Study
Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study:
|
Regular Mail |
Express Mail |
Overnight Mail |
Electronic Mail |
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
y |
|
y |
y |
| Send home study request to Local office |
|
|
y |
|
| Send home study report to Sending State |
y |
|
y |
y |
Criminal Records Checks
Rhode Island requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
In parent home studies, all adult household members along with the parents will receive a state criminal background check.
In all other home study requests, fingerprinting and a state criminal background check will be conducted on all adult household members.,
Types of Checks (Criminal & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Rhode Island requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks:
Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Relative |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Parent |
|
y |
|
y |
|
Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 24 hours
- Local/County: 24 hours
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: 48-72 hours
- Local/County: Not Offered
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
- Signature verifying background check completed
On letterhead or by sign off on official registry request form.
Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)
Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:
Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:
Rhode Island offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:
- Other: At the minimum of at least bi-monthly in varying locations throughout the state; at times monthly - dependent on staffing. Most ICPC referrals (relatives) attend 2 sessions of 3 hours duration each covering a wide range of topics and provide information on local social services agencies/services.
