Lawsuit to Protect Foster Children (part 2)

serviceit providestothecommunity."

Thislawsuit reflectsmanyof theconcernsexpressed by thegrandjury.Accordingtothecomplaint, childrenin county custody receivefar worsecarethanthestate average, andplaintiffsarewell awareof thesystem's shortcomings.Thelawsuit allegesthat Children and FamiliesServicesfailed toadequatelyscreen prospective fosterparentsor monitor children after they wereplaced in foster care Poor planningfor how to deal with individual cases.Children cannot beplaced in emergency shelterson short notice, and asa result,children aresometimesleft inthepoliceoffice overnight Failing to provideadequatemedical care tochildrenin care.Wecannot protect children from abusein care Wedo not keep enoughchildren inpermanent careand do not provideeffectiveservices for childrenwithdisabilities

And all of this,accordingtothecomplaint, isduetothe department handlingtoo many casesand havingtoofew caseworkers.

?Becauseof thehigh volumeof cases, CFScaseworkers areableto properly assessthesafety and welfareof children, develop individualizedcaseplans, facilitate reconciliation services, placechildreninappropriate locations, and providefederal custody waivers "We areunableto determinewhento fileastatutory petition," thelawsuit states. To someextent.

?Reasonablecaseloadsexist only if government agencies develop and maintain awell-funded andwell-planned childwelfaresystemthat actively recruits,trains,and retainscaseworkers.To do." Both theAmerican Child

WelfareFederation and theBoard of Trustees recommend caseworkersserve12to15 children, accordingtothecomplaint.However, according to a 2022grandjuryreport, child andfamily services workersserve70to90children at atime

Thelawsuit asksafederal district court that the district court:

Align casenumbersfrom county caseworkerswith recommendationsfrom theAmerican Federation of ChildWelfareandAccreditation Councils

Recruit andretain staff with sufficient qualifications toproperlysupervisechildren Provideappropriate individualized planning for all children in CFScare within 60days Createawrittenplan for afamily reunion, adoption, or other permanent family-like setting. Develop awritten planfor your child who has acasewith special treatment, services, or safety concerns. Providesuitableshort-termemergency housingso that thefoster child doesnot havetosleep inthedepartment office. Properlyscreenall potential foster parents, conduct homevisitsat least monthly, and interview foster childrenseparatelyfromfoster parents Theaction also seeks"reasonablecostsand expenses, includingreasonableattorneys' fees, for proceeding.