National Foster Care Sexual Abuse Practice
Foster care sexual abuse survivors may be able to pursue civil claims against foster care agencies, group homes, government entities, and others whose failures contributed to the abuse. These lawsuits can seek compensation for the survivor’s harm and hold institutions accountable for failures in screening, supervision, placement, investigation, or child protection.
Legally Reviewed by Matthew Dolman
Matthew Dolman is the managing partner of Dolman Law Group, a nationally recognized law firm that represents victims of serious negligence, including abuse within foster care systems and other institutional settings. Over the course of his career, Matt has helped recover more than $700 million for sexual abuse survivors and catastrophically injured clients and has served as lead counsel or co-counsel on over 1,000 cases involving significant exposure.
Matt has built his reputation on holding powerful institutions accountable, including government agencies such as human services and health and human services departments, especially when those systems are supposed to protect vulnerable individuals and fail to do so. He approaches these cases with a willingness to fully litigate when necessary, ensuring that responsible parties are not able to avoid scrutiny through quick or quiet resolutions.
His work has been recognized by major national publications, including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, People, and the New York Post.
This page has been reviewed to ensure accuracy and clarity based on current laws surrounding foster care abuse and the legal options available to survivors.
File a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse You Suffered as a Child in Foster Care and Get the Justice and Compensation You Deserve
Foster care should be a safe place for children as they are navigating one of the most challenging things any child can go through. But for far too many of these vulnerable children, the foster care setting becomes the environment of unthinkable trauma, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Foster home abuse, foster care neglect, and child maltreatment are unfortunately common issues within the foster care system.
At Dolman Law Group, we represent children and adults who have experienced abuse while in the care of the state and the Department of Children and Families. Foster care abuse cases are complex and can be extremely emotional and difficult for the victims, but these lawsuits are critical to holding the system accountable, especially when abuse occurred and may not be recognized until years later.
If you are a survivor of foster care sexual abuse or the family or guardian of a child abused in foster care, you have real options that can make a meaningful impact on your life and the lives of countless other children who are currently unprotected. Protecting children is paramount, and child welfare agencies and social services play a crucial role in ensuring a stable environment for foster children. Dolman Law Group is a national leader in foster care sexual abuse litigation.
Dolman Law Group helps survivors of foster care sexual abuse take legal action and fight for the justice, compensation, and healing they deserve. Foster families are entrusted with the care of vulnerable children, but the challenges children face in these placements can be significant and require vigilant oversight, especially due to the risk of abusive foster parents.
Children in foster care often suffer from mental harm in addition to physical abuse, with some damage being long-lasting and potentially irreversible. Reports indicate that approximately 25% of foster children experience PTSD, alongside elevated rates of depression and low self-esteem due to their experiences in the system.
Legal Support for Survivors of Foster Care Abuse
Survivors of foster care sexual abuse deserve to be heard and believed. The legal system can’t undo the trauma, but it can offer validation, accountability, justice, and essential resources to help abused children seeking recovery and justice. Our job is to make you feel as supported as possible during this process.
We don’t just handle the legal work. We understand the importance of legal representation and have extensive experience representing children in abuse cases. We create a space for survivors to speak safely and clearly about what happened to them, on their own terms; and when they are ready, we offer them a path toward justice and compensation for all their losses. Whether you are a survivor, a guardian, or a family member advocating for a child, we are here to help you seek justice.
We are experts at going after powerful institutions that enable abuse or fail to stop it. We have filed lawsuits against some of the biggest institutions and organizations in the world, including the LDS Church (Mormons), the Catholic Church, hundreds of priests, bishops, archdioceses, many other churches, juvenile detention centers, school athletic programs, school boards, doctors and hospitals, and so many others. Our work has been covered by People Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous other media outlets.
Legal advocates in foster care abuse cases ensure that children are not abused, neglected, or exploited in various care settings. The Dolman Law Group handles sexual abuse in foster care lawsuits nationwide, and we associate with local counsel when necessary and in accordance with the applicable state bar. We have the resources necessary to take on any defendant or governmental agency.
The number of organizations we have gone after for sexual abuse is quite sad now that I am recounting it.
For additional information about foster care sexual abuse claims, institutional liability, evidence, and reporting abuse, visit our Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuit resource.
Why Foster Care Abuse Cases Need Experienced Attorneys
Filing a lawsuit against a foster care agency or state welfare department is not like suing a private party. These cases require navigating a complex legal process, including procedural steps and strict deadlines, and choosing the right law firm with specialized expertise is critical.
The legal process often involves complex procedures, immunity laws under both state and federal law, and years of buried evidence.
Lawyers in this field initiate civil lawsuits and pursue claims to hold responsible parties—including any state agency that failed in its duty to protect children—accountable for harm to children in foster care. This is why you definitely need an attorney to represent you and why your attorney must be experienced in litigating foster care sexual abuse claims.
Attorneys must act quickly to gather evidence, as statutes of limitations can bar claims if action is delayed. Filing a legal claim requires strong, well-documented evidence such as medical records, photographs of injuries, agency files, witness statements, and police reports.
That’s why your attorney needs experience with:
- Child welfare systems and red tape
- State and federal immunity laws
- Agencies and contractors that hide liability
- Long-term trauma and mental health damages
- Institutional negligence and civil rights litigation
- State child welfare regulations and foster care liability laws
Finding qualified lawyers for foster care abuse means focusing on those with experience in institutional negligence and civil rights, and navigating these cases requires attorneys with expertise in civil rights and the child welfare system.
Legal representation for foster care abuse includes filing claims against foster parents, private agencies, or state organizations for various forms of abuse. Experienced attorneys in foster care abuse cases understand complex laws and evidence requirements crucial for protecting children and helping clients seek accountability from responsible parties.
Dolman Law Group partners with experts in child psychology, social work, and trauma-informed care to build powerful, evidence-backed cases. We’ve successfully handled high-profile claims against institutions that failed to protect children, and we’re not afraid to take on the government.
What Foster Care Sexual Abuse Can Look Like
Abuse in foster care can come from many sources: foster parents, biological children of those parents, other foster kids in the foster home, neighbors, group home staff, sexual predators who gain access to vulnerable children, or even CPS workers themselves.
Common forms of sexual abuse in foster care include:
- Inappropriate touching or fondling
- Exposure to pornography or sexual acts
- Sexual trafficking or exploitation
- Sexualized verbal harassment
- Rape or attempted rape
- Coerced sex acts involving others
- Child prostitution or grooming
- Physical harm from sexual abuse
- Other forms of psychological abuse (such as verbal assaults, humiliation, intimidation, and emotional manipulation)
Children in foster care are especially at risk because they often don’t have stable adults in their lives who believe in them or protect them. Many children feel ashamed or guilty about the abuse, believing it is their own fault, which only deepens their emotional trauma. That lack of support can make it easier for predators to abuse and silence them.
We’ve seen similar systemic failures in churches, schools, group homes, and detention centers. The pattern is all too familiar: an institution prioritizes its reputation over the safety of children, and abuse continues unchecked.
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Abuse in Foster Care
Kids rarely come forward and say, “I was abused.” Instead, the signs are often subtle—or masked by fear, shame, or threats. Adults must watch closely and act early. Abuse in foster care can cause not only physical injuries but also significant emotional harm, which can have lasting effects on a child’s mental well-being. Common signs of sexual abuse in foster care include:
- Major shifts in mood or personality
- Sexual knowledge or behavior that is inappropriate for their age
- Avoiding specific people or settings
- Injuries or infections with no clear cause
- Withdrawn, aggressive, or depressed behavior
- Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or bedwetting
- Unusual secrecy or attachment behaviors
If you notice more than one of these signs, don’t ignore them. Report your concerns immediately and talk to someone who can help. If you have any reason to believe there is suspected abuse, act quickly to protect the child—report suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities right away.
Reporting Foster Care Abuse in Florida
If you believe a child in foster care is being sexually abused, take action. This article explains in more depth how to report sexual abuse, but here are some good options to get started.
- Call the Florida DCF Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873
- Report online via the DCF Portal
- Call 911 if the child is in immediate danger
Mandated reporters include teachers, doctors, therapists, and social workers—but anyone can report abuse. You do not need proof. If you suspect it, speak up.
After a report is made, DCF and law enforcement are required to investigate. Unfortunately, investigations don’t always happen fast enough—or at all. If you feel your report is being ignored, follow up. Keep a record of who you spoke with and when. These records can become important in a future legal case.
Reporting Foster Care Abuse in California
- Child Protective Services (CPS): Call the hotline in the county where the child lives. Many counties have 24-hour hotlines.
- California Foster Care Ombudsperson: For complaints regarding care, services, or rights violations, call 877-846-1602 or email fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov.
- Complaints Against Licensed Providers: Call the 1-844-LET US NO / 1-844-(538-8766) line for issues with licensed foster homes or facilities.
How Common Is Sexual Abuse in Foster Care?
Sexual abuse in foster care is a crisis. Here’s what the research shows:
- Children in foster care are four times more likely to be sexually abused than children not in the system, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. Abuse and neglect, including foster home abuse and unsafe living conditions, are significant issues that make children in the foster care system especially vulnerable.
- Group homes and foster homes are especially dangerous, with one report finding that kids there are 28 times more likely to be abused.
- Roughly 1 in 3 foster children report abuse by a foster parent or another adult in the home, based on research from Oregon and Washington.
- With 400,000 to 600,000 kids in U.S. foster care each year, even a “small percentage” means thousands of child victims annually.
- A lack of transparency allows abuse to continue. Agencies, including the Children’s Bureau, which is responsible for monitoring and certifying foster care providers, often fail to track abuse claims or protect whistleblowers.
These are not isolated incidents. The problem is baked into a system that too often prioritizes budget cuts and bureaucratic convenience over child safety.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Foster Care Abuse Lawsuit?
More than one person or agency is often responsible when a child is abused in foster care. It is crucial that all responsible parties are held accountable and accept responsibility for their actions, especially to protect the child’s rights and prioritize the child’s well-being throughout the process:
- The abuser (foster parent, relative, other child, etc.)
- The foster care agency that placed the child in the home
- Social workers or caseworkers who missed red flags
- State or county child welfare agencies, where permitted by applicable law
Depending on the facts of the case, we may file claims for:
- Negligence
- Failure to supervise
- Negligent hiring or training
- Civil rights violations, including violations of a child’s rights
- Emotional distress or wrongful death
- The right to pursue claims for abuse, neglect, or discrimination
Holding multiple parties accountable is often necessary to uncover the full truth and ensure that it does not happen again, always with the child’s well-being as the primary concern.
Can Adults File Lawsuits for Abuse They Experienced in Foster Care as Kids?
Statutes of Limitations for Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
The deadline for filing a foster care sexual abuse lawsuit depends on the state, when the abuse occurred, the survivor’s age, the defendants involved, and the specific claims being pursued. Survivors should not assume that they are out of time simply because the abuse occurred many years ago.
Childhood sexual abuse statutes of limitations have changed substantially across the United States. Some states have eliminated the civil statute of limitations for certain childhood sexual abuse claims, while others have significantly extended the amount of time survivors have to file.
Revival and Lookback Laws
Some states have also enacted revival or lookback laws that allow previously time-barred childhood sexual abuse claims to be filed. These laws vary considerably. Some created temporary filing windows that have already closed, while others provide continuing opportunities for qualifying claims.
Discovery Rules and Tolling
Depending on state law, the filing period may also be affected by when a survivor discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an injury was connected to childhood abuse. Other tolling rules may extend the filing period under particular circumstances.
Claims Against Government Agencies
Foster care cases can involve additional deadlines when a state, county, or other government entity is a potential defendant. Government claims may be subject to special notice requirements, sovereign immunity rules, or procedural deadlines separate from the statute of limitations that applies to other defendants.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Talk to a Lawyer
Even when state law gives survivors additional time to file a lawsuit, waiting can make a foster care abuse case more difficult to investigate. Records may be lost or destroyed, witnesses can become harder to locate, and memories can fade over time.
Speaking with a foster care abuse lawyer can help determine which filing deadlines apply, identify potentially responsible parties, and preserve evidence that may be important to the claim.
Not all personal injury or civil trial lawyers are equipped to handle complex cases like this, especially since they involve potential legal proceedings against a government agency. Consulting with specialized law firms, including experienced sexual abuse lawyers, can provide critical resources and legal paths to secure a child’s safety in cases of suspected harm.
Talking to an attorney who is experienced in foster care abuse early on gives you the best chance of building a strong case. At Dolman Law Group, our law firm helps survivors understand their rights, protect their privacy, and file claims before deadlines pass—empowering them to seek justice, emotional healing, and move toward a fulfilling life.
What Compensation Is Available in Foster Care Abuse Cases?
Filing a lawsuit isn’t just about money—it’s about validation and rebuilding. But civil compensation can help cover the very real costs of recovery, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental health treatment
- Medical bills related to the abuse
- Medical care to support the child’s well-being, including ongoing therapy and health needs
- Long-term care or therapy costs
- Lost educational opportunities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages (in extreme misconduct cases)
- Wrongful death damages (in tragic cases involving suicide or fatal abuse)
Our legal team works with experts to calculate the full scope of damages and fight for the outcome that helps you or your child move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Who can be held liable for sexual abuse in foster care?
Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include the individual who committed the abuse, foster parents, private foster care agencies, group homes, placement organizations, and government child welfare agencies. Liability depends on each party’s conduct and applicable state law.
Can a foster care agency be held liable for sexual abuse?
Potentially. A private foster care agency may face liability when its own negligence contributed to the abuse, including failures in screening, placement, supervision, investigation, or responding to known warning signs.
Can a government child welfare agency be sued for foster care abuse?
In some circumstances. Claims against state or county agencies may involve sovereign immunity, special notice requirements, and other state-specific rules that affect whether and how a lawsuit can be filed.
Can I file a foster care sexual abuse lawsuit if the abuse happened years ago?
Possibly. Many states have changed their statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, allowing some adult survivors to pursue lawsuits years or decades after the abuse occurred.
What evidence can help prove a foster care abuse claim?
Evidence may include placement records, caseworker notes, background checks, prior complaints, incident reports, medical or therapy records, witness statements, communications, and records showing what an agency knew about potential risks.
What compensation may be available in a foster care sexual abuse lawsuit?
Compensation may include damages for emotional trauma, therapy and medical treatment, lost income or opportunities, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by the abuse. Available damages depend on the circumstances and applicable law.
Do I need a criminal conviction to file a foster care sexual abuse lawsuit?
No. A civil sexual abuse lawsuit is separate from a criminal prosecution, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil claim.
How much does it cost to hire a foster care abuse lawyer?
Dolman Law Group handles foster care sexual abuse cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney’s fees unless the firm obtains a recovery on their behalf.
How Dolman Law Group Can Help You
You don’t have to go through this alone. Dolman Law Group’s Sexual Abuse Civil Lawyers have the experience, sensitivity, and resources needed to take on these difficult cases. We will:
- Investigate the case and gather hard-to-find evidence
- File all required claims and meet deadlines
- Work with expert witnesses
- Prioritize your privacy and emotional safety
- Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement
- Take the case to trial if needed
Most importantly, we stay by your side every step of the way. We don’t just want to win your case—we want to help create change in the systems that failed you.
Real Reviews from Dolman Law Group Clients
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Contact Dolman Law Group for Help with a Foster Care Abuse Case
If you or your child experienced abuse in foster care, we’re here to help. Contact Dolman Law Group for a free, confidential consultation with a foster care abuse lawyer. We offer a free consultation to ensure survivors can easily access legal help and discuss their case without obligation. We’ll explain your legal options and help you take the first steps toward justice, healing, and accountability.
Get in touch with our team today. You don’t have to go through this alone.
