Press Releases

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is the independent, autonomous state agency tasked with the responsibility of protecting the legal rights of children involved with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). The OCA functions as the oversight agency to DCYF.

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law (R.I.G.L.) § 42-73-2.3(b)(1)-(3), the OCA shall convene a Child Fatality Review Panel to review fatalities and near fatalities of children under the age of twenty-one (21) if the statutory criteria are met.

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent, autonomous state agency tasked with the responsibility of protecting the legal rights of children involved with the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). The OCA functions as the oversight agency to DCYF.

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent, autonomous state agency tasked with the immense responsibility  of protecting the legal rights of children involved with the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), to promote policies and practices, which ensure that children are safe, that children have permanent and stable families, and that children in out-of-home placement have their physical, mental, medical, educational, emotional, and behavioral needs met. The OCA functions as the oversight agency to DCYF.