Children's Behavioral Health Consent Decree

On January 7, 2025, the State of Rhode Island entered into a formal agreement (Consent Decree) in the United States District Court after a federal investigation found violations to federal civil rights laws concerning psychiatric hospitalizations of youth from 2017 to 2022.  

What were the results of the investigation?  

• The investigation’s findings allege that children with behavioral health disabilities in the care and custody of Rhode Island’s child welfare agency are unnecessarily segregated in an acute-care psychiatric hospital.
• The State acknowledged the findings, although the State disputes aspects of those findings.
• Rhode Island worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop a consent decree to resolve the allegations. 

What does the decree do? 

• Creates a shared vision
  • To foster and strengthen community-based services for those children with behavioral health disabilities in the care and custody of DCYF, so they are treated in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
  • To transition children who have been hospitalized at Bradley Hospital to family settings with needed community-based services.
  • To prevent children with behavioral health disabilities from experiencing avoidable or unnecessarily prolonged psychiatric hospitalization.
• Requires a remedial plan
  • The State will be monitored as it works with a consultant to design and implement an agreed-upon remedial plan. 

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About the Monitor  

The State's progress toward compliance with the Consent Decree will be monitored by Elizabeth Manley, LSW. She serves as the senior advisor for health and behavioral health policy and is an assistant extension professor at University of Connecticut School of Social Work Innovations Institute (UCONN-II).   

About the Consultant Team 

The Department of Children, Youth & Families is being supported by expert consultants from the Innovations Institute, based at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work (UCONN-II). Innovations Institute provides training, technical assistance, facilitation, analysis, consulting, implementation support and research and evaluation. ​Their faculty and staff have nationally recognized expertise, education and leadership in health and human services systems. Innovations Institute has experience​ working in and with all 50 states and D.C., as well as with several tribes ​and territories.​  

Learn more about the University of Connecticut Innovations Institute.