AA v. Buckner Settlement Agreement

On December 18, 2025, in the case of A.A. v. Buckner, a federal class action against the Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR), the state settled a lawsuit challenging the unnecessary institutionalization of foster children with disabilities in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). The agreement requires Alabama to implement rigorous clinical assessments, enforce strict placement caps, and significantly expand community-based alternatives . . .