PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Department of Children, Youth and Families is slated to get an additional $5.4 million over two fiscal years to offset the projected shortfall by the nonprofit networks it contracts with to run its foster care system, under the House version of the state budget headed for Senate floor Thursday.
The increase includes $2.4 million for DCYF for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and $3 million for fiscal 2014 which begins July 1, according to an analysis by the House Fiscal Advisor's office.
Last March, leaders of the two nonprofit networks, which operate under contracts with the DCYF, pleaded with legislators for more money, saying they were running deficits. The networks, which serve more than 2,000 children in state care, said the shortfall was due to a higher-than-anticipated number of youth in group homes and residential treatment programs.
Governor Chafee previously had recommended cutting $1.4 million from the fiscal 2014 budget.