“Over the past ten years, thirty-two states have been involved in child welfare litigation, with thirty states entering into a consent decree or settlement agreement as a result of the suit. These decrees detail the various requirements and standards with which the state, under the jurisdiction of the court, must comply. The duration of these decrees depend on how many service areas the state must address, and its success in implementing the requirements of the decree. Most decrees that have been active within the past ten years have addressed the state’s failure to: – properly license and train foster parents; – place children in adequate and safe foster and group homes; – properly report, investigate and address abuse and neglect incidents; – provide needed medical, dental, and mental health services to foster children; – ensure adequate parent-child or sibling visitation; – ensure social workers have manageable caseloads, training and supervision; – provide children and families with adequate case planning and review.” – Publisher’s description
