All children are vulnerable to abuse, but foster children even more so. Sexual abuse in foster homes is very common, but it is rarely discovered and reported. Some abusers are able to prey on children for years and even decades.
In recent years, there has been more recognition of the problem and movement toward obtaining justice for children who were abused when they were in the care of the state. It may be possible to hold the abuser or the institution they worked for financially liable for the impact of the abuse. The sexual abuse attorneys at Phillips Law Group pursue these cases aggressively and with sensitivity and compassion.
Children in the foster care system have had little opportunity to learn appropriate boundaries and may be starved for affection. Their parents may have experienced addiction or homelessness, and the child never was able to develop a sense of security. Sexual abusers recognize how vulnerable these children are, and they take advantage.
The child has a caseworker supervising their care, but social services agencies are notoriously understaffed, and turnover is high. Even if the child reports the abuse to their caseworker, it is not unusual for concerns about a foster parent or residential facility operator to go uninvestigated for years. Most children stay silent, and the abuse continues.
Another factor is that many states delegate some or all of their foster care licensing activities to private agencies. Some of these agencies do a poor job of screening, training, and supervising foster parents and group home operators.
Anyone charged with the care of a child is responsible for protecting them and keeping them safe. Caregivers who fail in their responsibility are financially liable to the child they injured. Many states are adopting laws that greatly extend or even eliminate the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims.
The dedicated attorneys at Phillips Law Group will thoroughly investigate cases of sexual abuse in foster care homes. When possible, we will bring claims against the individual perpetrators of sexual abuse, as well as the institutions and agencies that failed to protect the child. Depending on the circumstances, these can include the:
Our legal professionals strive to claim against as many parties as possible, to increase the likelihood a childhood sexual abuse survivor will obtain reasonable compensation.
Childhood sexual abuse survivors may need decades to come to terms with what happened to them. Pursuing a civil case for compensation can be an empowering process for many survivors.
When a foster care sexual abuse survivor is ready to pursue a claim, a Phillips Law Group attorney will send a letter explaining the claim to all the potentially responsible parties identified in the investigation. Insurance companies for the responsible parties typically respond and initiate negotiations.
The survivor is entitled to compensation for the impact the abuse had on their life. Their damages may include medical expenses, including the cost of mental health treatment and therapy and ongoing mental health care. Survivors can also claim financial compensation for the impact the abuse had on their ability to pursue educational opportunities, succeed at work, and maintain healthy intimate relationships.
Our firm will pursue these claims aggressively but with sensitivity. We prioritize a survivor’s privacy and safety. We focus our representation not only on obtaining maximum compensation, but ensuring survivors are validated and supported throughout the process.
Being taken from your parents’ care is a traumatizing experience. When the person or institution entrusted with your care fails to protect you from sexual abuse, you may suffer the consequences forever.
Holding the perpetrators accountable may help you regain a sense of agency in your life. Contact Phillips Law Group today if you survived sexual abuse in foster care homes and are ready to seek justice.
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