Press Releases
Pinnacle Plan: DHS Fails to Make Significant Strides, Says New Report
Independent monitors charged with assessing Oklahoma’s child welfare reform effort found that the Department of Human Services (DHS) is unable to demonstrate positive change in any of seven agreed-upon performance areas–and has not made “good faith efforts to achieve substantial and sustained progress” in the key measure of increasing foster homes.
April 25, 2014In The Wake of Sexual Abuse Claim, Boys Home of the South and SCDSS Settle Lawsuit; Boys Home Announces Its Closing
(Abbeville, S.C.) — The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) and the Boys Home of the South, Inc. have settled, for an undisclosed sum, a lawsuit alleging that an 11-year-old boy was sexually abused at the facility in Belton, S.C.–then denied immediate psychological treatment for months after the assault. The suit was brought by South Carolina law firms Hite & Stone in Abbeville, S.C.; The Camden Law Firm in Camden, S.C.; and national advocacy organization Children’s Rights in New York.
April 9, 2014Voices of Foster Youth Amplified in Second Annual Campaign
NEW YORK, NY – On May 1, in recognition of National Foster Care Month, national advocacy organization Children’s Rights will launch its second annual Fostering the Future campaign to raise public awareness about life in state care. The campaign’s website, www.fosteringthefuture.com, will feature a blog post each day of May from someone affected by the […]
March 31, 2014Abuse Rate in Milwaukee Foster Care Drops to All-Time Low, but Kids Still Lack Stability, Report Finds
Eric Thompson, of counsel to Children’s Rights, released a statement in response to the latest progress report on the reform of the Milwaukee Bureau of Child Welfare (BMCW) during 2013.
March 27, 2014Federal District Court Erred in Connor B. V. Patrick Ruling, Assert Children’s Rights, Boston Co-Counsel
‘Vulnerable children…were erroneously held to a standard of proof no less burdensome than the standard to be met by an incarcerated felon,’ declares legal brief.
March 26, 2014Report Gives Mixed Review on Michigan’s Foster Care Reform Effort
Independent federal court monitors released a report that reviews the progress of Michigan’s Department of Human Services (DHS) in reforming its child welfare system in the first half of 2013, an effort spurred by national advocacy organization Children’s Rights.
February 5, 2014Metro Atlanta’s Foster Care System Makes Strides in Several Areas
Federal court monitors released a report tracking the Department of Family and Child Services’ progress as it reforms child welfare in metro Atlanta (DeKalb and Fulton Counties). In response to the report, Ira Lustbader, associate director of Children’s Rights, said while the improvements are noteworthy, DFCS must strive to overcome persistent problems that impact kids.
January 24, 2014D.C. Struggles to Complete Timely Child Maltreatment Investigations, Find Permanent Homes for Kids, Report Shows
(New York, NY) — The District of Columbia’s Children’s and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is not completing investigations into child abuse and neglect allegations on time or finding enough permanent homes for kids languishing in foster care, and caseworkers are often failing to assess the safety of foster kids, according to a report released today […]
January 21, 2014Advances Made for Kids in Connecticut Foster Care, Report Shows
(New York, NY) — The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) has made significant strides in improving care for abused, neglected and “at risk” children, but some serious systematic issues remain, according to a report released today.
January 7, 2014DHS Misses the Mark with First Attempts at Foster Care Reform
(Tulsa, OK) — An initial report by the three monitors chosen to assess Oklahoma’s progress on child welfare reform shows that its Department of Human Services (DHS) is failing to meet important initial goals, has been unable to provide data needed to accurately assess progress, and is facing a crisis if it doesn’t effectively address staff turnover.
