Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-72-5.3. Accreditation

(a)(1) The standards set by the Council on Accreditation (COA) are nationally recognized as best practices for protecting and providing services to abused and neglected children;

(2) Achieving and maintaining these standards requires a solid commitment from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government;

(3) It is the intent of the general assembly to provide the resources for the department of children, youth and families to meet, achieve, and sustain accreditation by the Council on Accreditation.

(1) Inputs, including updated staffing requirements, a timetable for achieving those requirements, and any additional costs associated with achieving accreditation;

(2) Outcomes, including an assessment based on statistical and other evidence, of the impact of accreditation on the number of abused and neglected children, the nature of their abuse, and the relationships between such children and their families.