Document Type

Capstone Project

Comments

Submitted to: William Palm, Ph.D., Director, University Honors Program and Lisa Newcity, J.D.

In fulfillment of the requirements for the University Honors Program Capstone.

Abstract

United States Family Courts handle intimately personal matters of immense consequence for individuals who find themselves involved with this court system. Family is the cornerstone of American society and individual lives; however, in many cases, children are separated from their parents if they have been abused, neglected, or their parents are unable to properly care for them. When family separation occurs, courts and family services must make every effort to reunify the family within a timely manner so long as it is safe to do so. Though Rhode Island has one of the smallest populations of all the states, there is still a great demand for family services, particularly in these cases in which families are moving toward reunification. The family courts work closely with the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) to ensure children are being well-cared for and families have the resources they need to reunify. Rhode Island has even established a number of specialty courts to handle specific types of family-related cases, such as the Safe and Secure Baby Court, the Family Treatment Drug Court, and the Juvenile Drug Court. In this paper, the author will explore the collaboration between family courts and family agencies within the state of Rhode Island, as well as analyze the effectiveness of existing programs and practices based on successful reunification rates. From there, the author will suggest options to increase successful and long-term reunifications, as well as the general well-being of Rhode Island families going through the family court system.

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