DCYF Announces Near Fatality of 15-Year-Old

DCYF Announces Near Fatality of 15-Year-Old

The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families announced on Monday that a 15-year-old nearly died this month.

The agency is disclosing few details.

“Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law § 42-72-8(c), the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) is disclosing the near fatality of a 15-year-old youth,” said the agency.

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The incident occurred on June 23, 2025, and DCYF has notified the Office of the Child Advocate. The youth was open to DCYF at the time of the incident.

While confidentiality laws prohibit DCYF from disclosing additional details, we are always disheartened to learn of these incidents.

 

In May, Golocal reported:

The Rhode Island Child Advocate’s office has broken its silence and issued a report regarding seven deaths and 23 near-fatalities.

The incidents date back five years and it is unclear why it took the office so long to issue the report.

In recent weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Youth and Family has issued press releases announcing one death and two near deaths with scant details.

The Child Advocate refused to comment on the cases or return calls to GoLocal.  The report released in May of 2025 does not include the 2025 cases.