Listening and Learning Tour

DCYF Listening and Learning Tour

The mission of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) is to partner with families and communities to raise safe and healthy children and youth in a caring environment and to engage respectfully and effectively with people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, classes, genders, sexual orientations, and faiths in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of all individuals, families, tribes, and communities, and protects and preserves the dignity of each.

Our expanded vision includes guiding principle to effectuate a strong child well-being system that can support Healthy Children and Youth, Strong Families and Diverse Caring Communities. 

Director Deckert has operationalized a Listen and Learn Tour across the state of RI. This series of structured, broad, and deep engagement of Department leadership with the community will provide opportunities for any stakeholder that touches the DCYD system to engage in meaningful discussions about DCYF's challenges, strengths, outcomes, mission, and goals.

Goals of The Listening and Learning tour:

  • Reinforce DCYF's commitment to Rhode Island's children, youth and families we serve.
  • Highlight youth and family voice to address challenges.
  • Drive innovative best practice and;
  • Strengthen collaboration and partnerships.

The tour will include five phases with a series of open forums with staff, youth, families, informal and formal stakeholders and community partners. Feedback received by these forums will support the framework necessary for DCYF to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan which includes actionable goals and benchmarks.

Listening & Learning Executive Summary 

Phase I Planning

  • September 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023

Phase II Implementation

  • Internal DCYF Tour: October 1, 2023-December 31, 2023
  • Community Tour: January 1, 2024- May 31, 2024
  • Open Forums: June 1, 2024-July 31, 2024

Phase III Evaluation & Reporting

  • July 1, 2024-August 31, 2024

Phase IV Strategic Plan

  • September 1, 2024 –December 31, 2024

Phase V Maintenance

  • January 1, 2025-December 31, 2030

Interested in learning more? Reach out to us today!

dcyf.lltour@dcyf.ri.gov