An investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and HHS’ Office of Civil Rights found the state “violated federal civil rights laws by routinely and unnecessarily segregating children” at Bradley Hospital in East Providence, according to a May 13 news release from the Justice Department.
Bradley is part of Providence, R.I-based Lifespan Health. According to the Justice Department, the acute pediatric psychiatric hospital is designed to treat patients on an inpatient basis for one to two weeks.
Between 2017 and 2022, 527 children in the care of Rhode Island’s Department of Children, Youth and Families were admitted to Bradley. Of those, 116 were hospitalized for more than 100 days in a row, and seven children were hospitalized for more than one year, the Justice Department alleged.
Investigators alleged Rhode Island failed to provide community-based options for children to receive mental health treatment, leading to long hospital stays. The state failed to comply with legal obligations to provide care for children in the most appropriate setting, according to the Justice Department.
In the news release, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said he was “hopeful that the findings we announce today will spur swift action by the state to meet its obligations under federal law.”
“It is nothing short of appalling that the state has chosen to warehouse children in a psychiatric institution, rather than stepping up to provide the community care, support, and services that these kids need, and that the law requires,” Mr. Cunha said.
In a statement shared with Becker’s, a spokesperson for the RIDCYF said the department has worked with Bradley and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, another Lifespan facility, to expedite discharges and appropriate placements for children.
“DCYF takes these findings very seriously and is committed to continuing to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reach a resolution in the best interest of the youth in DCYF’s care,” the spokesperson said. “We agree with the report that more work is needed on addressing the behavioral health needs of children in Rhode Island.”
The state has also launched a mobile response and stabilization program to provide on-demand crisis intervention services, the spokesperson said. In the pilot program, 90% of youth did not end up requiring psychiatric hospitalization.
“To address the need for more residential beds, to provide step-down care for youth who have been hospitalized, the state is investing approximately $45 million to expand in-state residential capacity, including a facility in Exeter that will serve 16 youth,” the spokesperson said. “Additionally, the state legislature appropriated $11 million for the building of a 12-bed psychiatric residential facility to address in-state capacity need.”
Becker’s has reached out to Bradley Hospital for comment and will update this article if more information becomes available.