R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-6: Notice to department of human services.

The clerk of the family court shall notify the director of the department of human services of the names and addresses, if known to him or her, of the parties to any proceeding in the court, so that the director, if the parties or any of them are recipients of public assistance, shall make known the interest of his or her department in the proceedings and shall enter an appearance.