Address: John O. Pastore Center, Cranston, RI 02920
Description: The Office is a legal office that advocates for particular children whose legal, civil, and special rights in the Department for Children, Youth and Families system and/or Family Court proceedings are not being met. Special attention is given to children in care who are not entitled to appointed counsel, primarily voluntary admittees, and to children who although represented in Family Court, need legal assistance in collateral matters such as education and mental health. In addition, the Office advocates for a group of individuals as an identifiable class when system change for an entire class is necessary. To accomplish this role, the Child Advocate has the statutory right to communicate privately, by mail or in person with any child in DCYF care; and to inspect, copy and/or subpoena records held by the Clerk of the Family Court, law enforcement agencies and institutions, public or private, where a particular child has been placed within or outside the State of Rhode Island.