Press Releases
Children’s Rights Responds to Supreme Court Ruling in Fulton Case
Today, the US Supreme Court ruled that Philadelphia may not bar a Catholic agency that refused to work with same-sex couples from screening potential foster parents. In August 2020, Children’s Rights filed an amicus brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia urging SCOTUS to uphold Philadelphia’s non-discrimination policy, arguing that otherwise children in child welfare […]
June 16, 2021Children’s Rights Unveils Bricks for Kids Installation in Hudson Yards to Raise Awareness of Children’s Mental Health
Contact: Camilla Jenkins cjenkins@childrensrights.org (New York, NY) Today New York-based national child advocacy organization Children’s Rights unveiled BRICKS FOR KIDS, a new sculpture on display at 10 Hudson Yards to raise awareness of the critical need to promote child mental health. This colorful seesaw sculpture, crafted out of toy bricks, was created to celebrate the […]
June 7, 2021Michigan Monitoring Report Shows Progress in Some Areas, But Critical Safety Concerns Still Plague the System
The court monitoring team in the ongoing federal child welfare reform lawsuit known as Dwayne B. v. Whitmer released the latest report on the progress of the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHHS), finding critical safety concerns for children under state care. Filed today, this report covers the first half of 2020 (January-June 2020). The […]
May 25, 2021New Report Maps Strategies for Disrupting Racism in Child Welfare
CNN’s Nicquel Terry Ellis to moderate panel discussion this Thursday Contact: Camilla Jenkins, cjenkins@childrensrights.org Event Page: childrensrights.org/fierceurgencyofnow (New York, NY) – Today national child advocacy organization Children’s Rights released Fighting Institutional Racism at the Front End of Child Welfare Systems, a new report that describes how institutional racism contributes to the disproportionate involvement of Black […]
May 20, 2021Advocates Sue Alabama Department of Human Resources for Illegally Placing Children in Foster Care in Harmful Psychiatric Residential Facilities
Contacts: Nancy Anderson, nanderso@adap.ua.edu; Ashley Levett, ashley.levett@splcenter.org; Camilla Jenkins, cjenkins@childrensrights.org (Montgomery, AL) –The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) discriminates against foster children and youth with mental impairments by unnecessarily segregating them in restrictive, psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs), and by denying them an opportunity to grow up in loving homes and community-based settings, according […]
April 14, 2021Children’s Rights Responds to SC Governor’s Order Blocking Migrant Children from State Foster Care
On April 12, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order to block unaccompanied immigrant children from being placed in South Carolina foster care facilities and group homes. The order incorrectly stated that denying immigrant children entry was necessary because of “requirements imposed” in connection with Michelle H. v McMaster, a federal court matter […]
March 2, 2021Child Welfare Advocates Release Roadmap for Ending Institutionalization of Children
New report shows harm done to children living in institutions and group homes, and offers strategies for reform Contact: Camilla Jenkins 917-971-1784 cjenkins@childrensrights.org Today, national child advocacy organization Children’s Rights released a report that brings new urgency to ending the harmful, unnecessary housing of more than 40,000 U.S. children in institutions and other group facilities […]
February 18, 2021Children’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 […]