Foster Care System Lawsuit

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A federal judge has signed an order that is expected to resolve an 11-year-old lawsuit challenging conditions in Mississippi’s foster care system.

U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee signed the order Thursday. In it, the state agreed to hire consultants who will recommend changes, including whether the child welfare unit should become a separate agency from the state Department of Human Services.

The order recommends that Gov. Phil Bryant call legislators into special session to deal with proposed changes.

The move comes after a court-appointed monitor in the Olivia Y lawsuit found that the Department of Human Services was falling short in efforts to improve Mississippi’s foster care system. Lawyers say the case is named after one of eight children who had been abused because of the state’s failures.