Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)
The Children’s Bureau oversees the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), which is a periodic review (every 6-8 years) of state child and family well-being systems, to achieve three goals:
- Ensure substantial conformity with title IV-B and IV-E child welfare requirements using a framework focused on assessing seven safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes and seven systematic factors;
- Determine what is happening to children and families as they are engaged in child welfare services; and
- Assist states in helping children and families achieve positive outcomes.
The CFSR begins with submission of a Statewide Assessment in advance of a week-long Onsite Review, and concludes with the development and implementation of a Program Improvement Plan (PIP). The Department completed three rounds of the CFSR in 2004, 2010 and 2018, and is currently in the midst of Round 4, which began in 2025.
The Round 4 Statewide Assessment was submitted in October 2025. It is a comprehensive self-assessment of Rhode Island’s state child welfare system, including an analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data to measure performance in 7 safety, permanency and well-being outcome areas and 7 systemic factor outcome areas.
DCYF’s most current SA is available for review.
Following submission of the Statewide Assessment, an Onsite Review was conducted the week of December 8-12, 2025. During this onsite review, 65 random cases were reviewed by state-federal review teams to determine performance on the 7 safety, permanency and well-being outcome areas referenced above.
Based on the submission of the Statewide Assessment and the results of the Onsite Review, the Children’s Bureau prepared a Final Report for the state, which guides development of the Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
Rhode Island received its Round 4 Final Report on May 5, 2026, and is currently in the PIP development phase of the CFSR process.
DCYF’s Round 4 CFSR Final Report is available for review.
RI CFSR Program Improvement Plan (PIP)
In May 2025, Rhode Island elected to participate in the Technical Bulletin 14 A Home for Every Child (AH4EC) pilot PIP.
This initiative advances the state’s vision to reduce the number of children in foster care through prevention efforts and strengthen family-based placement options by prioritizing kinship caregivers whenever possible and expanding foster homes equipped to meet the individualized needs of children who require out-of-home care. Through this pilot, Rhode Island will enhance its capacity to strategically direct resources, implement targeted interventions and improve transparency and accountability in outcomes.
The PIP will be available for review upon approval by the Children’s Bureau, which is anticipated in August 2026.
Federal Reports
The Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) is a narrative report that describes our vision, goals and objectives (steps to meet our goals). This includes all information as required by the Program Instruction. The Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR) is a narrative report on progress made toward meeting each goal and objective and any changes in our goals and objectives; a narrative description of the services to be provided in the upcoming year; and all other program information as required by the annual Program Instruction.
Child & Family Services Plan 2025-2029
Annual Progress and Services Report 2024
Annual Progress and Services Report 2023
Annual Progress and Services Report 2022
Annual Progress and Services Report 2021
Annual Progress and Services Report 2019
Annual Progress and Services Report 2018
Annual Progress and Services Report 2017
Annual Progress and Services Report 2016
Child & Family Services Plan 2020-2024