In furtherance of the purposes and duties imposed by this chapter, and in order to implement the procedures of the Rhode Island Child Abuse and Neglect Act contained in chapter 11 of Title 40, the department shall provide protective services for children. The department shall:

(1)  In cases in which reasonable efforts are required pursuant to § 15-7-7 or § 40-11-12.2, mobilize the services available in cases of child abuse and neglect which may assist the child and the child’s family including, but not limited to, day care, homemaking services, medical attention, social, psychological, and psychiatric evaluation and treatment, emergency shelters, transportation, individual or group counseling, and information and referral;

(2)  Establish procedures for administering purchase of service agreements from community and private agencies;

(3)  Develop a policy and procedure manual to be available to all staff workers; and

(4)  Require that the service plan developed for every child under protective care be geared to finding a permanent plan for the child within a time frame of one year, and require a review and evaluation program for all children for whom a plan has been developed.

History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 248, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 87, § 4.