Kathleen Brady-Stepien : “NY Lawmakers Reject Child Welfare Bailout”

The Final Budget Excludes $200 Million for Legal Settlement Payouts, Disappointing Survivors and Agencies

Following the recent passing of the final budget in New York, there was no provision made for the $200 million requested for legal settlements related to sexual abuse cases in the state’s child-serving institutions. This decision has left approximately 800 survivors who have filed lawsuits against local child welfare agencies since the state’s 2019 Child Victims Act feeling neglected and disheartened. The lack of financial support has created uncertainty for both survivors seeking justice and the agencies facing legal battles.

The legal battles reveal harrowing accounts of abuse suffered by children in group homes and foster care settings. Many survivors have come forward with allegations of physical and sexual abuse, citing negligence on the part of staff members who failed to address their complaints. For instance, a lawsuit against Children’s Village details the abuse experienced by a 10-year-old named Stephen Dixson, who was subjected to repeated physical and sexual abuse by older residents in his bedroom. Another case involves a foster child placed in a Queens home by Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, where she endured sexual abuse by her foster mother, despite her biological mother reporting the abuse to no avail.

“These victims’ lives have been irrevocably damaged, and they deserve justice,” remarked Helene Weiss, a lawyer representing numerous survivors under the Child Victims Act. “It is truly disappointing that New York State has failed to prioritize the needs of these survivors who have suffered under the state’s care.”

Advocates for survivors and the nonprofit caregivers that support them had hoped for the inclusion of the $200 million fund in the final budget to assist public school districts and foster care agencies facing lawsuits under the Child Victims Act. However, the legislation proposed for this fund, authored by Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, was not passed, leaving survivors and agencies in a precarious position.

Kathleen Brady-Stepien, president and CEO of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies, expressed disappointment in the final budget’s failure to address the critical need for financial support for survivors and the organizations serving them. The absence of the fund has raised concerns about the future of essential programs and services for vulnerable children and the ability of survivors to seek justice through legal recourse.

Assemblymember Lunsford highlighted the challenges faced by agencies in Monroe County, stressing the potential impact of further financial strain on their ability to provide essential services to children in need. Without adequate resources and support, these agencies risk closure, leaving vulnerable children without crucial care and support.

As the legal battles continue and agencies grapple with the financial implications of settlements, the future remains uncertain for survivors seeking justice and the organizations dedicated to supporting them. The lack of a government bailout to address these pressing issues has raised concerns about the sustainability of services for survivors of abuse and the long-term impact on the child welfare system in New York.

It is essential for the state to acknowledge the needs of survivors and the challenges faced by the agencies supporting them, and to take decisive action to ensure that justice is served and essential services are preserved for vulnerable children.