Judge Approves South Florida Foster Care Settlement Agreement

On August 5, 2019, a federal court approved a settlement in the class action lawsuit H.G. et.al., v. the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The plaintiffs alleged that children in DCF’s Southern Region child welfare system are denied basic shelter through extreme housing instability (or churning) through many placement moves due to inadequate housing options. They also allege that the child welfare system failed to ensure that foster youth are provided with mental health assessment and treatment services.

The settlement requires DCF to halt the practice of placing children in hotels, motels, or DCF offices . . .