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« State child advocate meeting with the governor | Today | Update: Suspect in dual slaying violated probation » July 2, 2007Carcieri says he was unaware of foster-care abusesPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri met today for 45 minutes with state Child Advocate Jametta Alston and then spoke publicly for the first time about Alston's charges against the state. Alston last week filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging widespread abuse of foster children in state custody and systemic failure at the Department of Children, Youth and Families. The governor said he was not aware that any abuse was taking place in the state's foster care system. "In order for me to take action, I need to be aware of these things," he said. Carcieri said his office was now investigating allegations of sexual and physical abuse detailed in the 85-page lawsuit and that his staff would brief him on the situation tomorrow. "Are any of the allegations true?" Carcieri said. "I don't know any of that right now." Meanwhile, Alston said she did not discuss the lawsuit during the meeting with the governor, which was primarily about how to maintain communication while the lawsuit plays out. Alston, a Carcieri appointee, investigates abuse among other things and works closely with the DCYF. "I didn't come here to talk about the lawsuit," she said while leaving the State House tracked by reporters.
-- Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau Posted by Steve Peoples CommentsJohn McCaughey | July 2, 2007 6:37 PM link Let me get this straight, DCYF falls under the executive branch and the governor didn't know about what was going on? DOT also falls under executive and he had no idea about that situation either. Something tells me that the Don is being a little less than honest here. And I hope that RI Child Advocate Jametta Alston wins her case against the Governor and DCYF. She's a fierce advocate for children, I remember that from when I worked with her at the Attorney General's Office. Tony P | July 2, 2007 8:47 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
The governor is not being honest about the problems at DCYF. He pretends he does not know about the problems. That is false. In his contract discussion with local 580, DCYF the represenatives of the governor were made aware of major problems at the agency and how impossible caseloads made the situation dangerous for the children. The did not care to respond to or address these problems. He talks about the fact that they can get a worker to rearrange their hours and not pay them over time. Yet the problems are caused by the hours worked but by over 60 vacancies in caseworker postions not being filled. People are coming to DCYF and leaving the agency after only being there a short time. Not because of the work but because of the way things are run, the huge caseloads and lack of resources and the responsiblilty for the lives of more kids than anyone could responsilbity follow. THe governor talks about adding ten workers as if that is the answer. They are down 60-70 workers and by the time the ten new workers go on the line they will have probably lost at least 6 more so the effect is minimal at best. The professional workers have met with management to tell them things are horrible but nothing comes of it. The governor's response for years was to try to beat up the union and blame the workers on the line. I can see why Cookson fired him. He thinks firing 1000 people is the solution to services. This has been going on for a long time but has gotten significant worse under this governor. The truth is Cacari does not care about the DCYF kids, or the caseworkers there. If he were honest he would say that tax breaks for the very rich are more important to him than the lives of the kids in DCYF care.