The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a final rule change that will end data collection regarding the sexual orientation of foster children and foster and adoptive parents in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Christina Wilson Remlin, lead counsel for Children’s Rights, blasted the change, which came despite […]

NY City Lens covers the challenges foster parents are seeing with virtual visits, court hearings, and school. “This coronavirus and then obviously by extension, the shelter in place mandates, have affected almost every aspect of child welfare and juvenile justice,” said Erin McGuinness, senior policy analyst at Children’s Rights.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been emotionally traumatic for us adults, but its impact on our nation’s youth is arguably far greater. Even young people with loving and present parents and kin are experiencing an emotional and financial toll of unforeseen magnitude as families are forced to navigate what this crisis means for their education and their future.

“Having gone through this and looking to court opinions from similar cases and institutions across the country, I believe this opinion will be another really powerful pronouncement on what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate,” Timothy Farrell said. “And I hope that it will continue a trend and continue the momentum, in a way that sends […]

Activists warn that the pandemic has exacerbated the deficiencies of the foster care system, which houses up to about 440,000 children and youth in the United States. Sandy Santana, Executive Director of Children’s Rights interviewed with Noticias Telemundo. “The complex and battered foster care system…faces additional tests during the pandemic,” said Sandy Santana. These systems […]

With children staying home, states are seeing a significant decline in the number of abuse and neglect cases reported since COVID-19 caused schools and businesses to close. “The shelter-in-place order and the school closures have literally made, in my view, millions of millions of kids invisible to the professionals that are trained to spot abuse and […]

Last month, Disability Rights Iowa and Drake University’s Center for Children’s Rights wrote to Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen to share concerns about the safety of Iowa youth now living in detention facilities, group care and the state-run training school for boys located in Eldora.

Children who enter the school are caught in a vicious cycle of violence perpetuated by the institutional shortcomings of a school that places very little emphasis on treating mental health disorders.

Federal Judge Stephanie M. Rose holds the State liable for violating the constitutional rights of children at the School and ordered that a monitor be appointed to oversee sweeping court-ordered reforms to practices at the School. Filed in 2017, the case centers on BSTS’ lack of adequate mental health care services for children who need […]

“This is an extraordinary victory for children,” said Harry Frischer, Children’s Rights lead counsel. “The School literally has been torturing youth in its care.” A powerful 116-page ruling came out of an Iowa class action suit Children’s Rights, Disability Rights Iowa, and Ropes & Gray LLP filed in 2017.