Big Win in Court in Our Battle to Fix Oregon's Broken Foster Care System
Federal Judge Rules Class Action Lawsuit Moves Forward
In 2019, Disability Rights Oregon and our partners filed a lawsuit against Oregon to transform a broken foster care system for thousands of children who’s needs are not being met.
This week, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken ruled the class action lawsuit moves forward, delivering a win for Oregon’s foster care children.
Unique's Story
The case, Wyatt B. v. Brown, was brought on behalf of 10 children in Oregon’s broken foster care system who were ages 18 months to 17 years old when the suit was filed, including Unique, a nine year old in the system for two and a half years.
Oregon shuffled Unique from placement to placement, denied her adequate mental health care and, for about six months, abandoned her in an out-of-state facility where she was abused and illegally restrained. Desperate to get out of Oregon’s broken foster care system, Unique tried to walk into oncoming traffic, yelling she did not want to live.
Oregon Must Do Better
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken, denied the State’s motion to dismiss Unique case and wrote:
“The case of the named Plaintiffs Unique L. […] allege that they have been unnecessarily placed in institutional facilities and deprived of placement in the least-restrictive setting. These allegations, and the reasonable inferences that may be drawn from them, are sufficient to make out a claim for disability discrimination under the integration mandate.”
Transforming the System
Roughly half of the 7,500 children in Oregon's foster care system experience a disability. We know that every child needs a secure, healthy family-like home where their potential can be nurtured. Thousands of these children are not getting their needs met.
“This case is about transforming Oregon’s broken foster care system to ensure every child’s needs are being met,”
Support our Work
We are only able to do this important work for Oregon’s foster care children because of donations from our supporters. Please support our work by donating today.
