Rising out-of-state placements highlight gaps in local mental health services and long-term care solutions for vulnerable youth
R.I. Sends Youth to Unsafe Out-of-State Facilities:
As of December 1, 2025, the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) reported that approximately 1,248 children were in out-of-home placement. Out-of-home placements include traditional foster homes, group homes, residential treatment centers, and other settings where children cannot safely remain with their families. This number shows how large Rhode Island’s child welfare system is.
Over the past several years, the number of Rhode Island youth sent to out-of-state residential programs has slowly increased. In 2018, there were about 50-55 youth placed out of state, while recent numbers in 2024 and 2025 show 65-74 youth were placed out of state, according to DCYF data. This trend reflects the growing demand for specialized mental health and behavioral care, as local programs have struggled to keep up. The increase also highlights the ongoing challenge of providing safe, in-state care for children with the most complex needs.
Residential programs, including group homes, semi-independent living programs, and residential treatment centers, made up a total of 25.5% of out-of-home placements at that time. Of the 282 children in these programs, 70 were placed in out-of-state facilities, according to DCYF’s 2025 Factbook.
Being far from home can be hard on kids, especially teens with serious mental health or behavioral challenges. It also makes it tougher for Rhode Island officials to monitor children’s care. Families may see their children less often, and advocates have raised concerns about safety and the quality of treatment in some out-of-state programs. Most of the youth sent out of state are teenagers with complex emotional or behavioral needs. The state does not have enough local programs to care for children with these high-level needs.
These numbers show a major challenge in Rhode Island’s child welfare system. The state does not have enough local programs to meet the needs of children who have intensive mental health or behavioral care. In Spring 2024 and 2025, there were about 68-74 youth placed in out-of-state programs, revealing how often the state must send children far away when local options are not available.
Sending children to out-of-state residential programs is also expensive. According to legislative testimony from the Office of the Child Advocate, it costs the state about $200,000 to $250,000 per child each year, much more than providing care in Rhode Island. (Source: Legislative testimony, Office of the Child Advocate, 2025) Out-of-state care is expensive. Being away from family for a long time can make it harder for children to find a permanent home, adding both financial and emotional strain. These high costs put pressure on the state budget and show why expanding safe, local programs could help both children and taxpayers.
Data on outcomes also helps explain the problem. Data from DCYF shows that in 2023, only 21% of children in out-of-home care found a permanent home within a year. Of those children who did find a permanent home, nearly 79% were reunited with their families, rather than being adopted or placed with guardians. For many children, returning home can be a positive step. However, for some, it remains complicated and may still involve risk or ongoing support.
Overall, these numbers show that many children in Rhode Island spend long periods in foster care or residential programs, and some are sent far from home to out-of-state facilities. Extended separation from family can harm children’s emotional and social development, underscoring the need for safe, stable, local care options.
Audio-Visual: JT Lawrence
Copy-Editing: Michelle Stiber and Ashlyn Keating
Graphic Design: Fatima Rasuly
Research & Script Writing: Ashlyn Keating