Discover how victims of foster care sexual abuse can file a lawsuit to hold abusive foster parents and negligent child welfare agencies accountable, seek justice, and recover compensation for the trauma they’ve endured.
Foster care is supposed to be a safe place for children who are in a horrible situation and literally have nowhere else to go. No child wants to be in the foster care system; they end up there because something terrible has happened to them. Because of this, they should at least be safe. But when foster care turns into a place of fear and pain from sexual abuse, it leaves a mark that no child should ever carry.
At FileAbuseLawsuit.com, we represent survivors of foster care sexual abuse and fight to hold both perpetrators and negligent agencies accountable. When the system fails to protect a child, we do everything we can to make sure the foster care system, the perpetrator, and any other person or organization that failed that child are held responsible to the fullest extent of civil law.
If your child or a child you care for suffered sexual abuse in the foster care system—or if you are an adult and suffered abuse while you were a child—you’re not alone, and you have options.
Our foster care sexual abuse attorneys are here to help you file a civil lawsuit against those who harmed you or your loved one and will provide critical support to help you heal and recover. You deserve compensation for your damages, and we will do everything we can to get you compensation.
Giving Survivors the Voice They Deserve
Children placed in foster care are some of society’s most vulnerable. When they are abused, their trauma is magnified by betrayal from the very system meant to protect them. We stand beside these survivors with compassion and strength, helping them speak up and pursue justice.
Legal battles involving foster care abuse are complex. They involve filing claims against government agencies, private contractors, or foster care organizations, entities that have lawyers and insurance companies trying to avoid blame. That’s why having experienced legal representation is so important. Our firm has decades of experience in sexual abuse litigation and a deep understanding of how foster care systems operate.
Why You Need a Lawyer With Foster Care Experience
Filing a lawsuit for sexual abuse in foster care requires more than legal knowledge: it demands specialized expertise. Here’s what sets the right law firm apart:
- Deep Understanding of Foster Care Systems: We know how these agencies work, what regulations they must follow, and where things typically go wrong. That allows us to uncover hidden failures and hold agencies accountable.
- Proven Legal Success: Our affiliated firms have recovered millions for abuse survivors, including cases against government agencies, major corporations, and powerful institutions.
- Resources to Build Strong Cases: Our network includes investigators, forensic experts, trauma specialists, and seasoned litigators who collaborate to uncover the truth and build compelling evidence.
- Client-Centered Advocacy: We treat every client with respect, empathy, and discretion. Survivors deserve to be heard without judgment, and we prioritize their privacy every step of the way.
Recognizing Sexual Abuse in Foster Care
Sexual abuse in foster care can take many forms and often mirrors abuse in other institutional settings, like schools, churches, and group homes. Perpetrators may include foster parents, relatives, other children in the home, and sometimes, even the caseworkers themselves.
Common Types of Sexual Abuse in Foster Homes
Common forms of foster care sexual abuse include:
- Inappropriate touching
- Exposure to pornography or sexual content
- Rape or attempted rape
- Sexual exploitation or trafficking
- Coercion into sex acts
- Verbal sexual harassment
Children in foster care are at particular risk because they often lack the support of a stable family and may be hesitant to speak out. Abuse in these cases isn’t just criminal—it’s a human rights violation.
Watch for These Red Flags
Recognizing the signs of sexual abuse can save lives. While every child reacts differently, there are common warning signs to watch for:
- Dramatic changes in mood, behavior, or personality
- Sudden fear of certain people, places, or routines
- Use of sexual language or behaviors beyond their age
- Physical symptoms like bruises, infections, or pain
- Withdrawal from school or decline in academic performance
- Nightmares, bedwetting, or regression to younger behaviors
- Fear of going home or reluctance to be alone with specific individuals
If you suspect abuse, take action immediately. Even if you’re not sure, report your concerns. You don’t need proof, just a reasonable belief that a child may be in danger.
Learn More: How Do I Talk to My Child About Sexual Abuse?
Reporting Abuse and Understanding Your Role
Every state has laws that require professionals like teachers, doctors, and social workers to report suspected child abuse. But anyone can make a report, whether or not they’re a mandated reporter.
How To Report Sexual Abuse In A Foster Home Or The Foster Care System
- Call your state’s child abuse hotline
- Contact Child Protective Services (CPS)
- If it’s an emergency, call 911
In Florida, for example, reports go through the Department of Children and Families (DCF), either online or by phone (1-800-962-2873).
After a report is made, law enforcement or CPS investigates. Sometimes, action happens quickly; other times, delays occur. Sadly, foster care systems are often overwhelmed, underfunded, and poorly coordinated. That’s why documentation is critical: save every communication, report, and name you encounter. If the agency fails to protect the child, these records could become vital evidence.
Understanding the Scope of Sexual Abuse in Foster Care
Child sexual abuse remains a hidden crisis in the United States, marked by systemic failures, underreporting, and lasting, serious harm to survivors. The following statistics on sexual abuse in the foster care system tell a story better than almost anything else can. Read all the way to the end to see some truly alarming stats.
Key Statistics of Sexual Abuse in the Foster Care System
Prevalence and Risk Factors
Child sexual abuse is more common than you probably realize. Some of these statistics are shocking.
- Roughly 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the U.S. are sexually abused before the age of 18.
- Most victims know their abuser: over 90% of cases involve a perpetrator familiar to the child.
Certain circumstances increase the risk of a child being sexually abused.
- Children who live with a single parent who also has an unrelated adult residing in the home have a far higher likelihood of abuse (up to 20 times greater). That is a frightening statistic and a serious reason to give thought before allowing your new boyfriend to move in with you and your kids too soon.
- Children in foster care also face a much higher rate of sexual abuse.
- Children with disabilities have approximately triple the risk of sexual abuse.
Underreporting and Systemic Challenges
Despite its prevalence, child sexual abuse often goes unreported.
- Experts estimate that only 1 in 3 cases are ever brought to authorities.
- Children often don’t tell a parent or a trusted adult about the sexual abuse due to fear, shame, or not realizing it was abuse, so the true scope is far greater than official reports suggest.
- Even when abuse is reported, justice is rare: fewer than 1 in 5 cases lead to prosecution, and only around 10% result in a conviction, meaning most offenders never face accountability.
- Let’s break this down. These stats mean:
- If 300 children are sexually abused, only 100 cases are brought to law enforcement.
- Of those 100 cases, fewer than 20 of their abusers are charged.
- And of those 20 cases that are charged, only 2 are convicted.
- So, out of 300 children who are sexually abused, only 2 of their abusers are convicted. And this is likely much higher since most children don’t say anything. And of those two, it’s unlikely either of them will do much jail time.
- Is your mind blown?
Long-Term Impact and Accountability
Child sexual abuse causes lasting trauma, and many survivors do not come forward until years later, often well into adulthood.
Because of this tendency to delay coming forward until they are an adult and realize the severity of what happened to them, advocates have fought to extend the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse cases so survivors can seek justice when they are ready.
Holding perpetrators (and the institutions that failed to keep them safe) accountable through the legal system is crucial to help survivors heal and to prevent further abuse. The lawyers at FileAbuseLawsuit.com can help you get monetary compensation to pay for all your past and future damages and to give you some justice for the crimes committed against you, your child, or a child you love.
Sexual Abuse Is More Common In Foster Care
Sexual abuse in the foster care system isn’t rare—it’s a national crisis.
- Foster Children Are At A Higher Risk: Foster children are 4 times more likely to be sexually abused than children who are raised in any other situation, according to Johns Hopkins research.
- Foster Group Homes Are Nightmares of Abuse: Children who live in a foster group home are 28 times more likely to be sexually abused than the general population. A group home is a specific type of foster care living situation where multiple children live in a residence that houses many foster children at once. Foster care systems in the US say that these homes are safe because they are supervised and staffed by professionals who provide care and support. But did I mention that children in group homes are 28 times more likely to be sexually abused than other children?
- Widespread Abuse: A study from Oregon and Washington showed nearly 1 in 3 foster kids had been abused by someone in the home.
These statistics are more than numbers, and as you can see, they aren’t just statistics for the sake of having a few numbers on this page. The story they tell is mind-blowing! These statistics represent thousands of children who have been ignored, silenced, or denied justice.
And more than that, these numbers reflect a government system that is tasked with caring for some of the most vulnerable, if not THE most vulnerable, of our population and is failing. The foster care system in America too often chooses the protection of its reputation over the protection of the children it has been tasked with protecting.
Holding the Right People Accountable
Filing a civil lawsuit is one way survivors and families can demand accountability and get justice. Civil claims don’t just target the individual abuser; they can also go after the institutions and agencies that failed to intervene in the first place.
Potential defendants in a foster care sexual abuse claim include:
- Foster parents or household members
- Foster care agencies and placement services
- Caseworkers and supervisors
- Government agencies (state or county child welfare departments)
A successful claim can not only get the abused and their family the compensation they need to rebuild their lives and get their child the treatment they need, but it can uncover systemic failures and force changes that prevent future abuse.
Learn more: 5 Things to Consider Before Filing a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Filing a Lawsuit as an Adult Survivor
Many foster care sexual abuse survivors don’t come forward until years later, and that’s okay. Thanks to changes in the law, many states now give adults more time to file lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse.
Depending on where the abuse occurred, you may be able to file a claim even if decades have passed. States now use a variety of survivor-friendly rules:
- Extended Statutes of Limitations: These laws give survivors until their mid-20s or even 30s to file.
- Lookback Windows: States like California and New York passed special laws allowing survivors to file old claims during a limited time window, even if the regular deadline had expired.
- Discovery Rules: Many states now delay the statute of limitations until the survivor realizes the full impact of the abuse or connects it to their trauma.
Still, every state has different rules. That’s why it’s crucial to consult an attorney as soon as you’re ready. We’ll help you understand your rights and make sure no deadlines are missed.
Types of Legal Claims for Abuse in the Foster System
Survivors can bring a range of legal claims based on their abuse:
- Sexual abuse or assault: This claim directly addresses the abusive actions of the perpetrator, holding them legally responsible for any unwanted sexual contact or exploitation inflicted on the survivor.
- Negligent supervision or hiring: This applies when an agency or foster care provider fails to properly vet, monitor, or train individuals, allowing someone unfit or dangerous to harm a child in their care.
- Emotional distress: Survivors can seek compensation for the psychological trauma they suffered, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other lasting mental health impacts resulting from the abuse.
- Failure to protect: This claim targets institutions that knew or should have known a child was at risk but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, allowing abuse to occur or continue.
When suing a government agency, things are more complicated than they are when dealing with a private company or individual. If you choose FileAbuseLawsuit.com to help you, we will guide you through every step and handle all the legal work while you focus on healing yourself and your family.
Learn More: What Is the Timeline for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Foster Care Abuse Lawsuit?
Filing a civil lawsuit is about more than holding people accountable, it’s about helping survivors heal. Compensation may include:
- Pain and Suffering: Acknowledging the trauma and emotional toll of the abuse
- Psychological Treatment: Costs for therapy, counseling, and mental health support
- Medical Bills: Covering care for physical injuries or related health needs
- Future Medical Needs: Long-term care, if required
- Education Support: For tutoring, special services, or lost opportunities
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Recognizing the stolen innocence and lasting harm
- Punitive Damages: Additional money awarded to punish egregious misconduct
- Wrongful Death: In tragic cases, damages can help support the surviving family
Your attorney will use their knowledge from past cases, along with experts, to assess the full impact of the abuse and fight for every dollar you deserve.
How We Support Clients Every Step of the Way
Filing a lawsuit might sound overwhelming. We understand that. That’s why our attorneys handle the hard parts and walk with you every step of the way. We will:
- Investigate your case thoroughly.
- Gather evidence.
- Consult experts.
- Navigate complex government legal procedures.
- Protect your privacy and your rights.
- Fight for a fair settlement.
- Take your case to trial if needed to get maximum compensation.
Throughout the process, we provide compassionate guidance and connect you with medical, mental health, and survivor resources. You won’t be in this alone!
Take Action. Change Lives.
By stepping forward, you’re not only seeking justice for yourself or your child, you’re making a powerful stand for all children in the foster system. Civil lawsuits are one of the most important tools we have to expose abuse and push for lasting change through laws and by pushing the system to do what is right in the first place.
Ready to talk? Reach out to our team at FileAbuseLawsuit.com. We offer free, confidential consultations. There’s no pressure, just a safe place to start exploring your options. Your story matters. Let’s work together to make sure it’s heard and begin the process to get your damages compensated.