Press Releases
Children’s Rights Applauds Introduction of the Equality Act
Today, U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the introduction of the Equality Act, federal legislation that, if passed, would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs. The Equality Act would […]
February 16, 2021Settlement reached in federal class action on behalf of Arizona kids in foster care
On February 12, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver granted final approval of a settlement agreement for B.K. v. Faust, a federal class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the more than 13,000 children in Arizona’s state foster care system. The settlement will require the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to improve access to […]
February 15, 2021First Monitor’s Report Shows Substantial Progress toward Compliance with Court-Ordered Reform Plan for Iowa Boys’ State Training School
Contacts: Children’s Rights—Camilla Jenkins, 917-971-1784, cjenkins@childrensrights.org; Disability Rights Iowa—Annie Matte, 515-278-2502, contact@driowa.org (Des Moines, IA) – An independent Monitor today filed the initial report on Iowa’s efforts to improve conditions and services at the Boys State Training School in Eldora, Iowa, noting that the State has made progress in accordance with a Court order to […]
February 11, 2021Children’s Rights Celebrates the Administration’s Agreement to Halt Discriminatory HHS Rule Change
On Wednesday, a federal court granted a joint request from Plaintiffs and the Biden Administration and ordered the immediate postponement of a discriminatory Trump-era regulation that would have allowed taxpayer-funded child welfare agencies to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and other non-merit characteristics. This historic decision, agreed to by both […]
February 9, 2021Alabama Bill Will Harm Innocent Children
Tomorrow, the Alabama State Senate Healthcare Committee will take up SB 10—a bill that, if passed, would harm transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) children. If passed, SB 10 would ban widely-accepted gender-affirming medical care for Alabama’s TGNC youth, and make the provision of this medical care a Class C felony. SB 10 even makes it […]
February 3, 2021State of Wisconsin and Children’s Rights Begin Exit of Milwaukee County Foster Care Settlement Following Years of Successful Reforms
Significant improvements in child welfare are a victory for Milwaukee County children Contact: Camilla Jenkins, 917-971-1784, cjenkins@childrensrights.org (Madison, Wisconsin)—In a significant milestone for Milwaukee County children in foster care, the parties to the Jeanine B. v. Evers class action lawsuit brought to overhaul Milwaukee County’s foster care system have jointly filed to exit federal court […]
January 28, 2021Northern District of Georgia Grants Class Certification to Include Hundreds of Incarcerated Students with Disabilities
This week, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted an unopposed motion to certify T.H. v. DeKalb County School District as a class action. The decision is the first of its kind in the 11th Circuit establishing that a class can proceed on behalf of incarcerated youth with disabilities within a county […]
January 8, 2021Children’s Rights Condemns HHS Attack on LGBTQ Youth and Families
Children’s Rights condemns the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule change removing non-discrimination protections based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in federal health and human services programs, including child welfare. This rule would grant a license to discriminate, ultimately harming vulnerable young people in the foster care system. The ruling will […]
January 6, 2021Lawsuit Argues Maine Fails to Protect Children in Foster Care From Harm Due to Inadequate Oversight of the Use of Psychotropic Medication
Contacts: Children’s Rights: Camilla Jenkins cjenkins@childrensrights.org 917-971-1784; Bernstein Shur, Sawyer & Nelson: David Farmer dfarmer@bernsteinshur.com, 207-228-7275 (Portland, ME) – Today, advocates for children’s rights filed a federal complaint against the state of Maine on behalf of children in foster care who are being harmed and put at substantial risk of harm when administered psychotropic drugs […]
January 5, 2021Lawsuit Challenges New Hampshire’s Unlawful Treatment of Older Youth in Foster Care
Contacts: Children’s Rights: Camilla Jenkins, cjenkins@childrensrights.org, 917-971-178; Disability Rights Center – NH: Stephanie Patrick, stephaniep@drcnh.org, 603-228-0432, ext. 121 (Concord, NH)—New Hampshire is violating the constitutional and statutory rights of older youth in foster care and putting children at severe risk of dangerous and tragic outcomes, according to a federal lawsuit filed by advocates for children’s […]
