Lawsuit Charges Arizona Child Welfare System With Widespread Failures

On February 3, 2015, children’s advocates sued the State of Arizona alleging that the state child welfare system has failed to "protect maltreated children from further physical and emotional harm and unreasonable risk of harm while in the State’s care." The plaintiffs seek class action status for the lawsuit, with the class to include the more than 16,000 children in state custody. The plaintiffs allege that the Arizona child welfare system lacks enough family foster homes; fails to ensure that children in foster care receive medical, mental health, and dental care; fails to help children maintain family . . .