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AZ B.K. v. McKay

Arizona

Children’s Rights, along with co-counsel Perkins Coie LLP and the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, filed this case against Gregory McKay, in his official capacity as director of the Department of Child Safety, Cara M. Christ, in her official capacity as director of the Department of Health Services, and Thomas J. Betlach, in his official capacity as director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. The class action, seeking reform on behalf of the more than 16,000 abused and neglected children in state care, asserts that Arizona has engaged in destructive practices that have exposed these children to “further physical and emotional harm and unreasonable risk of harm while in the State’s care.”

CASE DETAILS

Venue
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, Phoenix Division
City
Phoenix
Status
Active
Filed
February 3, 2015
Focus Areas
Child Health, Government Accountability, Families Together

According to the complaint, four core deficiencies within the child welfare system are undermining children’s health, well-being and safety. For example, young people:

The suit asks the court to ensure that the state fixes these egregious failings, asserting that plaintiffs’ federal constitutional and statutory rights are being violated.

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