Press Releases
Children’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 […]
December 3, 2020ACTION: Motion for preliminary injunction filed to stop immediate harm to vulnerable Ohio children and families
Contacts: Children’s Rights – Camilla Jenkins cjenkins@childrensrights.org 917.971.1784 DLA Piper – Josh Epstein josh.epstein@us.dlapiper.com 212.776.3838 Cincinnati, OH —A Preliminary Injunction Motion and a Motion for Class Certification were filed today on behalf of children placed with eligible relative foster parents to stop the state of Ohio from withholding federally required Foster Care Maintenance Payments that […]
November 19, 2020Lawsuit Argues Ohio Illegally Fails to Provide Required Payments to Relative Foster Parents
Children’s Rights – Camilla Jenkins cjenkins@childrensrights.org 917.971.1784 DLA Piper – Josh Epstein josh.epstein@us.dlapiper.com 212.776.3838 (Cincinnati, OH) – In Ohio, foster children cared for by relatives are being unlawfully denied foster care maintenance payments, according to a complaint filed today in Cincinnati federal court against the state of Ohio by attorney Richard F. Dawahare, attorney Jay […]
November 18, 2020Celebrities show up for Children’s Rights #1Nation4Children Benefit
Virtual benefit honors musician Cyndi Lauper with appearances by Rosario Dawson, Ashton Kutcher, Alicia Keys and more (New York, NY) – Children’s Rights, the preeminent legal and advocacy voice for children in the child welfare system, hosted its 15th annual Benefit Gala & Inspiration Awards virtually on Wednesday, November 18. The benefit, hosted by Broadway […]
November 16, 2020Federal Court to Protect the Rights of Detained Youth in Georgia to Receive Special Ed Services
Contact: Camilla Jenkins, cjenkins@childrensrights.org Federal Court Reaches Preliminary Approval of Settlement to Protect the Rights of Detained Youth in Georgia to Receive Special Education Services in T.H., et al. v. DeKalb County School District, et al. (Atlanta, GA) – On November 10th, a federal court in Atlanta preliminarily approved a class action settlement with the […]
November 10, 2020Some Improvements, But Critical Safety Concerns Remain In Latest Michigan Monitoring Report
The court monitoring team in the ongoing federal child welfare reform lawsuit know 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 second half of 2019 (July-December 2019). The […]
November 3, 2020Court Decision Vacates Harmful “Public Charge” Rule
As the nation holds its breath on this fraught Election Day, there is welcome news for children, and for the rule of law. On November 2, Judge Gary Feinerman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ordered the Trump administration to vacate its “public charge” rule, saying the policy exceeded the […]
October 23, 2020Children’s Rights Applauds Additional Funding Announced for Connecticut’s Foster Parents
The following statements were issued by Ira Lustbader, Litigation Director at Children’s Rights, and Steven Frederick, Partner at Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky in response to Governor Ned Lamont’s approval of supplemental funding to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The new funding will support foster parents for the costs associated with caring for […]