Oregon’s Child Welfare System Sued Over Rising Number Of Institutional Foster Youth Placements

On April 16, 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) over the rising number of foster youth placed in institutional settings. Specifically, the lawsuit says the state has failed to meet its legal obligation to provide adequate placements and services to the children in its care. About half of the 8,000 children in Oregon’s foster care system experience a disability and many of them are not placed in a stable, family-like home. The plaintiffs allege that the current system violates children’s constitutional rights and rights under federal law . . .