Rhode Island lawmakers to hold hearings on child deaths

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island state legislators will be holding hearings on how to prevent the deaths of children in state care.

Department of Children, Youth and Families Director Trista Piccola is scheduled to testify Monday at a Senate committee hearing.

The House Oversight Committee is also set to hold a hearing on Tuesday on recommended changes to the child welfare agency.

Piccola, who is DCYF’s new leader, has said inadequate staffing might have played a role in recent child deaths.

A review by the state’s child advocate published in March recommended an overhaul of DCYF practices after finding that four children died in the past year despite warnings from family, friends, police and others.