Episode 8 – 11/14/25

Roger Williams University’s student journalism initiative, Communities of Hope, presents groundbreaking solutions journalism examining two critical pathways for vulnerable Rhode Island youth. The investigation highlights Child and Family Rhode Island’s Independent Living Program (ILP), which provides housing, life coaching, and essential skills training for teens aging out of foster care—a program shown to significantly reduce homelessness and incarceration rates. The report also features Mario’s Law, Rhode Island’s 2021 legislation offering parole review after 20 years for individuals who committed crimes before age 22, emphasizing rehabilitation over permanent punishment. Through interviews with psychologist Dr. Bonita Cade and Mario’s Law namesake Mario Monteiro, the reporting reveals systemic gaps in mental health support, nutrition, and trauma-informed care within juvenile justice facilities, while showcasing evidence-based programs that successfully break cycles of instability and incarceration.

*This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.