Oregon foster care class action lawsuit moving forward

Oregon and its child welfare system have been in and out of court since 2019, defending against a class action lawsuit on behalf of every child in foster care. The national advocacy group A Better Childhood and Disability Rights Oregon are pushing for adequate facilities and support and an end to the trauma they say kids suffer in state custody. Similar lawsuits have been brought in other states, including Tennessee, which implemented reforms following a settlement that resulted in improved outcomes for the children and youth in its care. A trial date is set for May in the Oregon case, and another round of settlement talks is scheduled for next week. We’ll get an update from the lead attorney in the case and the director of A Better Childhood, Marcia Robinson Lowry.