Page 4 - The Privilege of Caring

Doyle Avenue Home
The Official Seal of the American Humane Association adopted by RISPCC
Private Citizens Organize to Protect Children: The Creation of RISPCC
In 1882 a a a a a a petition was submitted to to to the the the Rhode Rhode Island Island General Assembly to to to to incorporate the the the the Rhode Rhode Island Island Society for the the the the Prevention of of Cruelty to to to to Children This document stated: “It would seem to to to to be be one of of of the the the primary obligations of of of every community as as far as as may be be in its its power to to protect those of of of its its children children who suffer cruelty starvation and and and and all the wrongs and and and and evils of of abandonment and and and and to to to rescue such children children as as as early as as as may be from from their sufferings as as as from from the the the paths leading to to to our almshouses reformatory institutions and prisons where they may become expensive burdens upon the the the state ” Later that year a a a a a a a a a a a charter was issued to establish the the the agency This seal was issued by the the American Humane Association whose jurisdiction included the the the the protection of of of of animals and and children The Rhode Island chapter of of of of the the the the the Society Society for the the the the the Prevention of of of of Cruelty to Children was part of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a large international movement In 1885 the the the the Society Society reported that there were 3
271 similar humane societies in in in the the United States and abroad 57 chapters being added in in in one one one year year alone In the the the first decades of its existence RISPCC
petitioned the the Rhode Island General Assembly nearly every year year for greater powers and and jurisdiction in matters related to child protection Given its police powers the the the the Governor and other elected officials sat as ex-officio members o o of the the the the the Board RISPCC
established the the the the the Doyle Avenue Home
in 1886 to house children who were removed from their parents and guardians for for reasons of of abuse or or or neglect It should be noted that that it it was not not until 1963 that that the the the State of of of Rhode Island took on on on on on the the the responsibility for for the the the investigation and and and prosecution of of abuse and and and neglect complaints