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Over the past ten years alone, there has been child welfare class action litigation in 32 states, with consent decrees or settlement agreements in 30 of these.2 These lawsuits have often resulted in settlement agreements that become “consent decrees” upon approval by the court. Once approved by the court, the consent decree acts as a contract, binding the child welfare agency and the attorneys acting on behalf of the “plaintiff” class members to its terms, and it is fully enforceable by the court.3 The substance of the consent decree describes specific actions defendants must take to resolve the identified problems, and the plaintiffs’ responsibilities to ensure the provisions in the decree are implemented.

Child Welfare Consent Decrees: Analysis of Thirty-Five Court Actions from 1995 to 2005 (pages: 56)

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