The number of children who have been sexually abused while under the care of adults who were entrusted with keeping them safe is reaching appalling levels. Foster parents, residential care workers, and camp counselors are in a position of power and authority that should be centered around keeping children under their care safe. Instead, some are using their position and a child’s lack of parental support or presence to gain access to a child and engage in unconscionable sexual abuse.
A Johns Hopkins University study found that children who live in group homes are up to twenty-eight (28) times more likely to suffer sexual abuse than children living outside of these homes. Additional studies have found that nearly one-third (1/3) of foster children have reported being sexually abused by caregivers or other adults living in the foster home. Still, hundreds of other children have recently come forward reporting that they were sexually abused while attending a day or overnight summer camp.
It is believed that a lack of proper and sufficient funding in support of foster homes and residential centers contributes to a dangerous environment replete with ineffective supervision and faculty hiring practices. Some facilities and homes appear so desperate to fill employment positions that they forego a comprehensive background check of employees and foster families. Such systemic failures regularly place children at-risk—children who do not have the legal ability to act on their own behalf.
Several states have recently passed legislation—commonly referred to as the “Child Victims Act” (“CVA”) legislation—that resurrects an individual’s ability to file suit against an offender or a culpable entity despite the fact that the prior applicable statute of limitations had previously expired. These various CVA laws have led to an increase in claims—many from individuals who had never previously reported the abuse that occurred decades ago.
Slater Slater Schulman LLP is dedicated to the confidential representation of individuals sexually abused children while under the care of another individual or entity. If you or someone you love has suffered this form of abuse and wishes to file a claim, please contact Slater Slater Schulman LLP for a free, confidential consultation by filling out the form on this page or by calling our office at (800) 251-6990.
