State Attorneys Seek Dismissal of Foster Care Lawsuit

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – State attorneys are seeking to dismiss a sweeping federal lawsuit targeting Oregon’s troubled foster care system.

Attorneys representing Gov. Kate Brown and the Department of Human Services filed a motion to dismiss the suit Thursday. They argue that only the state government can address flaws within the state’s foster care system.

The national advocacy group A Better Childhood filed the lawsuit in April and alleges that the state violated foster children’s federal and constitutional rights by not providing them proper care.

State attorneys say in their motion that Brown, a Democrat, and other leaders at DHS have released plans to address challenges within the foster care system making a lawsuit unnecessary.

Advocates have two weeks to respond to the dismissal motion.