December 5, 2011 - Federal District Court Judge A. Howard Matz today approved a landmark agreement between advocates and the state of California that will provide intensive home- and community-based mental health services for children in foster care or at risk of removal from their families. The agreement in the class-action suit Katie A. v. Bonta comes nine years after the case was first filed.
Sept. 28, 2011 - Advocates are celebrating an agreement that will provide intensive home- and community-based mental health services for California children in foster care or at risk of removal from their families. The agreement in the class-action suit Katie A. v. Bonta comes nine years after the case was first filed.
Sept. 22, 2008 - Federal Judge A. Howard Matz ordered the parties in Katie A. v. Bonta to meet promptly and report back to the Court by October 29 on how “wraparound” services can be covered by Medi-Cal and properly billed—thereby ensuring that mental health care providers will be reimbursed for delivering these critical services to children in foster care.
Court Reverses Order in Katie A.; Remands for More Findings
A federal appeals court reversed a preliminary injunction requiring intensive mental health services for tens of thousands of foster children. However, the appeals court affirmed California’s obligation to provide effective services to these children, and upheld the lower court’s finding that these children face the grave harm of unnecessary institutionalization without the injunction.
On July 27, 2006, a federal appeals court denied California’s request for an emergency stay of an order requiring the state to provide community mental health services to tens of thousands of foster children and children at risk of being removed from their homes.
On March 14, 2006, the federal district court in Los Angeles ordered the state of California to provide mental health services that will enable tens of thousands of foster children to avoid institutional care.
Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2008
Los Angeles County's Board of Supervisors passed a 5-year, $62-million plan Tuesday to improve mental health services, taking a step toward fulfilling a 5-year-old settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of children in foster care.
Los Angels Times, November 23, 2006
A federal judge has ordered Los Angeles County to improve mental health services for children in its foster care system and move faster to comply with reforms agreed upon in a past federal agreement.
San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 22, 2006
Out of the state's 86,000 foster children, between 70 to 84 percent suffer from mental-health problems. Given the amount of neglect and abuse many of these children went through even before they entered the system, these numbers are not surprising.
Los Angeles Times, March 16, 2006
California would send fewer kids to institutions under a federal judge's ruling.
Los Angeles Daily News, March 16, 2006
In a landmark decision that could affect thousands of mentally ill children in California psychiatric hospitals and group facilities, a federal judge has ordered the state to provide services in their homes and communities.
San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 16, 2006
A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered the state to provide mental health services to foster children who otherwise could face institutionalization.
Youth Law News, April-June 2006
The latest update on the Katie A. case including details on the preliminary injunction order requiring the State of California and DCFS to restructure the way mental health services are delivered to children in, or at risk of, foster care.
Youth Law News, April-June 2005
Overview of the Katie A. settlement agreement requiring the County and DCFS to improve mental health services and placement stability for children in the department’s custody.
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