New agreement reached in battle over foster care

New agreement reached in battle over foster care

The state and lawyers for Baltimore City children in foster care have reached a new agreement in their 25-year court battle over the care the children receive.

Lawyers for foster children filed suit in 1984 seeking better treatment for the children. In 1988, the two sides reached a consent decree, but that did not end the case. For the past 21 years, the state and the children’s advocates have argued over the extent of Maryland’s compliance with the decree, culminating in the advocates’ 2007 motion asking a judge to find the state in contempt and enforce compliance.