Group files foster care lawsuit against Mass. alleging abuse of children in state care

Group files foster care lawsuit against Mass.

BOSTON — A national children’s advocacy group has filed a class action lawsuit against Massachusetts alleging widespread abuse of children in state-supervised foster homes and institutions.

The New York-based group Children’s Rights says it filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts seeking broad reform on behalf of more than 8,000 children statewide. It names six plaintiffs, identified by their first names and last initials, who advocates claim have been badly harmed in foster care.

The group claims the state Department of Children and Families violated their constitutional rights by placing them in dangerous and unstable situations.

The agency says it shares the goal of protecting children, and the lawsuit will force it to spend scarce dollars defending itself instead of using the money to help families.