KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasNevada's Foster Children Have Rights, Federal Judge Rules
Children stuck in the foster care system have won a victory in their rights. Foster children will now be appointed a legal advocate to represent their rights and wants in court.
A federal judge has ruled Nevada's foster children have enforceable rights under the law.
Among the issues upheld by the judge's ruling is the right for foster parents to be heard in court and for families to receive timely written case plans.
Bill Grimm, with the National Center for Youth Law, said, "This is a very good day for foster children in Clark County. This is the best day they've had since we filed the lawsuit in August, quite frankly. This is a federal judge saying today, Clark County and the state, you are accountable to those children."
The order written by Judge Robert Jones green-lights a lawsuit filed on behalf of children who were injured or killed while in foster care.
The child advocacy group that filed the suit seeks to reform Nevada's child welfare system through court intervention.
Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Colleen McCarty.
