Deng, G. (2024, July 29). WA to pay $15M to three former foster care youth in sex abuse case. Washington State Standard. https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/29/wa-to-pay-15m-to-three-former-foster-care-youth-in-sex-abuse-case/
The failure of child welfare agencies to properly monitor their placements continuously exposes children to severe physical abuse and sexual abuse, intense emotional abuse, permanent psychological damage and massive personal injury claims. According to a July 2024 report by Grace Deng from the Washington State Standard, this devastating reality is shown by the state of Washington paying a $15 million settlement to three former foster siblings. Placed in a rural Centralia foster home in 1990 at ages four, five, and six, the sisters suffered an entire decade of abuse by their foster parents’ two teenage sons, a nightmare that continued even after they were formally adopted by their foster mother. The lawsuit revealed state serial negligence such as the home being originally licensed to house only one child but held up to twelve in a “cult-like” environment defined by extreme religious views and severe punishment. State social workers completely abandoned the girls, failed to conduct legally mandated monthly safety visits for years.