Press Releases
Statement: Children’s Rights Condemns New HHS Rule That Would Enable Discrimination in Child Welfare
Today, the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new rule that would enable discrimination by taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies. Sandy Santana, Executive Director of Children’s Rights, issued this statement condemning the new proposal: “With this rule, we are witnessing the full force of the United States government being […]
October 29, 2019Children’s Rights Hosts 2019 Benefit & Inspiration Awards
Rosario Dawson spoke at NYC fundraiser for kids; Broadway impresario Jordan Roth emceed NEW YORK – Children’s Rights, the preeminent voice for children harmed by the nation’s immigration, healthcare and child welfare systems, hosted its 14th annual Benefit & Inspiration Awards Gala at the Mandarin Oriental on Monday, October 28 in New York. The event featured […]
September 27, 2019Children’s Rights and Leading Children’s Advocacy Organizations Challenge New Regulations for Detaining Families and Children
The United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled today in favor of the Flores plaintiffs. In her holding, Judge Dolly Gee tracked arguments made in Children’s Rights’ amicus brief, noting severe problems with the administration’s proposed self-licensing and self-oversight scheme for detaining immigrant children. The court found that the sections of […]
August 30, 2019Children’s Rights and Leading Children’s Advocacy Organizations Challenge New Regulations for Detaining Families and Children
Children’s Rights and a coalition of nonprofit children’s advocacy organizations submitted an amicus brief today challenging the Trump administration’s new regulations that would overturn protections for immigrant children under the Flores Agreement and allow the indefinite detention of children and families. The brief argues that detention, even with their families, inflicts long-term, irreparable psychological harm […]
Nine Months after Lawsuit Filed, Extreme Lack of Housing and Mental Health Services in Kansas Foster Care Continue
Four New Plaintiffs Identified in Child Welfare Lawsuit Contact: Daniel Kessel, 646-216-3343, dkessel@childrensrights.org Children in the Kansas child welfare system are still experiencing a basic denial of shelter in foster care with extreme disruptions to their stability – with children in foster care still being moved more than 50 or 100 times – almost nine […]
August 21, 2019Statement: Indefinite Detention Prolongs Trauma of Children
Today, the Trump Administration announced proposed amendments to the Flores agreement, a decades-old court settlement that prohibits the government from detaining children for more than 20 days. The new policy would allow migrant families and children to be detained indefinitely. Sandy Santana, Executive Director of Children’s Rights, issued this statement: No amount of time is […]
August 15, 2019Judge Approves Settlement Agreement in South Florida Foster Care Reform
“Too many young people were being harmed by the very system that was supposed to protect and support them” Contact: Daniel Kessel, 646-216-3343, dkessel@childrensrights.org (Tallahassee, FL) – A federal judge has given final approval to a settlement that promises dramatic improvements to the state’s foster care system as operated by the Florida Department of Children […]
August 12, 2019“Public Charge” Rule Ultimately Harms Innocent Children
Today the Trump Administration announced it would move forward with a new “public charge” rule that would make it more difficult for immigrants to qualify for a green card. Specifically, the expanded public charge rule would penalize those who have accepted specific public benefits, including housing assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Medicaid. Sandy […]
August 8, 2019Roadmap for Reform: Latest Monitoring Report Highlights Focus Areas Ahead in Connecticut Child Welfare Lawsuit
Contact: Daniel Kessel, 646-216-3343, dkessel@childrensrights.org (Bridgeport, CT) – Today an independent court monitor released the latest report on Connecticut’s ongoing efforts to improve its child welfare system, showing that, while the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has maintained performance in several measures under the court-ordered 2017 Revised Exit Plan, there are five outstanding areas […]
July 18, 2019DeKalb County Jail Charged with Systemic Failure to Provide Education Services to Incarcerated Youth with Disabilities
Contact: Daniel Kessel, 646-216-3343, dkessel@childrensrights.org (ATLANTA) – Every child with a disability is entitled by federal law to a free, appropriate public education, including specially designed instruction necessary to ensure their academic success. But according to a federal class-action law suit filed today, students held at the DeKalb County Jail are denied the opportunity to receive […]
