Published 5 days ago • loading... • Updated 5 days ago

Mississippi foster care system fails to meet dozens of safety requirements, new report says

On July 29, a court monitor report revealed the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services met only 22 of 107 applicable safety measures throughout 2025, with children experiencing abuse or neglect at more than twice an acceptable rate.
Gov. Tate Reeves and Attorney General Lynn Fitch, represented by Baker Donelson, are seeking to dismiss the Olivia case, with Department Commissioner Andrea Sanders claiming policy efforts have been "far reaching, covering the work of the Agency across many areas."
The monitor found 22 children under 10 living in prohibited group housing, while only 82% of mistreatment conclusions were backed by evidence and at least 18 incidents of maltreatment went unidentified.
Lead lawyer Marcia Lowry told Mississippi Today the report contradicts the state's position, arguing that changes under Sanders have not produced tangible results for foster children in care.
District Judge Sul Ozerden, overseeing the case, allowed lawyers to wait for the monitor's report before responding to the dismissal motion, which the state must file by late August.

Insights by Ground AI

13 Articles

MS Senator says foster students denied FAITH scholarship will have funding for school - WXXV News 25

MISSISSIPPI (WXXV) — Families across Mississippi have been searching for answers after learning that 170 foster students were denied their FAITH grants—full-ride scholarships for students who have spent time in foster care. Now, they may finally have some hope. These students have been forced to reconsider their schooling options after unexpectedly learning—just weeks before classes begin—that they will not receive the funding they had been coun…

5 days ago

Read Full Article