Foster Care Abuse and Neglect

Our Promise to Children in State Care

Children and teens removed from dangerous homes deserve safe, stable, and loving placements. At Goldberg & Goldberg LLC, our Chicago-based Foster Care Abuse & Neglect team is dedicated to protecting kids who were hurt in foster homes, group homes, hospitals, or state-run institutions. If your child suffered harm, we move fast to secure safety, preserve evidence, and hold every responsible party accountable. Call 312-368-0255 for a free, confidential consultation.

When foster care abuse and neglect occurs, you have rights-and we’re here to enforce them.

Foster Care Abuse and Neglect in Plain Terms

Abuse may be physical, sexual, or emotional. Neglect includes lack of supervision, failure to provide medical care, poor nutrition, dirty or unsafe living conditions, or allowing access to known abusers. Harm often stems from bad placements, skipped home visits, or ignored warnings.

Types of Harm We See Most

Physical injuries (bruises, fractures, burns) and “accidents” that don’t match the story
Sexual abuse, grooming, exposure to pornography, or sexualized behavior beyond age level
Emotional abuse-threats, humiliation, isolation, coercion
Neglect-missed medical or therapy appointments, lack of supervision, unsafe homes

Where Abuse Happens

Foster homes and kinship placements
Group homes and residential treatment centers
Hospitals or psychiatric facilities
State-run or contracted institutions

Why These Cases Are Different

Foster Care Abuse & Neglect related cases are complex. Records may be sealed. Multiple defendants-foster parents, private agencies, caseworkers, facilities, and public entities-can share responsibility. Immunity defenses and special notice rules may apply. Children need trauma-informed advocacy to limit interviews and reduce re-traumatization. Our team knows this terrain and moves decisively.

Goldberg & Goldberg LLC’s 10-Step Action Plan

Step 1: Immediate Safety & Mandatory Reporting

Your child’s safety is the priority. We coordinate emergency care, file urgent motions when needed, and ensure reports go to the right authorities. We work to remove the child from danger-fast.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence & Paper Trails

We send preservation letters and demand complete files: DCFS case notes, agency visit logs, home studies, placement decisions, incident reports, medical and therapy records, and school data. We capture photos and witness statements and secure digital messages.

Step 3: Forensic, Child-Friendly Interviews

We use trained child-forensic professionals to minimize repeat interviews. Children speak in age-appropriate settings, with support, to protect both their well-being and the integrity of the case.

Step 4: Identify Every Liable Party

We map responsibility across foster parents and household members, private child welfare agencies and their staff, DCFS supervisors, contracted providers, and facilities.

Step 5: Holding Public Entities Accountable

We investigate negligent placement, missed home visits, failure to monitor, delayed reporting, and policy violations. We track notice requirements and immunity defenses so your case is filed correctly and on time.

Step 6: Medical & Psychological Experts

Our network includes pediatric forensic specialists, child psychologists, and life-care planners who explain injuries, connect trauma to events, and project future treatment needs and costs.

Step 7: Calculating Full Damages

We document all losses-medical and mental health care, educational supports (IEPs, tutoring), future care, and the human cost of pain, suffering, and loss of normal life.

Step 8: Settlement vs. Trial

We prepare for trial from day one. That leverage helps us negotiate from strength, whether in mediation or direct talks. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we’re ready for court.

Step 9: Privacy & Protective Orders

Children deserve privacy. We seek protective orders and sealing where appropriate and handle media inquiries so families can focus on healing.

Step 10: Post-Resolution Support

We help connect families to ongoing therapy, medical care, education services, and community resources that support long-term recovery.

Who Can Be Sued in Illinois DCFS Cases?

Foster Parents & Household Members

They must keep children safe. Liability can arise from direct abuse or failure to supervise, including allowing access to known abusers.

Private Child Welfare Agencies & Staff

Agencies must screen, train, and monitor homes. Missed monthly visits, poor documentation, or ignoring risks may create liability.

DCFS / Public Entities

DCFS and other public bodies can be liable for policy failures, inadequate supervision, late reporting, or negligent placement-subject to notice rules and defenses we navigate every day.

Group Homes, Hospitals & Institutions

Facilities have duties to supervise, staff adequately, and follow mandatory reporting laws. Failures can expose them to liability.

Warning Signs Families Should Never Ignore

Sudden fear of a person or place; withdrawal or aggression
Unexplained injuries, frequent ER visits, or “accidents”
Regression (bed-wetting), nightmares, sleep problems
Sharp changes in grades or school attendance
Hoarding food, weight changes, poor hygiene
Sexualized behavior or knowledge beyond age

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

What To Do Right Now if You Suspect Harm

Get the child to a safe place.
Seek medical attention and request a detailed exam; keep discharge papers.
Document everything-photos, dates, behaviors, texts, emails.
Report to the appropriate hotline or law enforcement if there’s immediate danger.
Call Goldberg & Goldberg LLC at 312-368-0255 for a free, confidential case review. We’ll guide your next steps.

Evidence That Moves Jurors

Medical and therapy records that prove injuries and trauma
Agency and DCFS files: home studies, visit logs, placement decisions
School records: attendance, behavior notes, counselor reports
Photos and videos of injuries or unsafe conditions
Expert opinions tying policy failures to harm
Timelines that show each missed warning sign

Damages & Compensation

Medical & Mental Health Care: ER visits, specialists, counseling, medications
Educational Supports: IEPs, tutoring, special services
Future Care: Long-term therapy, life-care planning
Non-Economic Losses: Pain, suffering, loss of normal life
Punitive Damages (when allowed): To deter reckless conduct

Every case is unique. We build a complete, evidence-based damages model that reflects the child’s needs today and tomorrow.

Statutes of Limitation & Deadlines in Illinois

Timelines are strict. Minors often benefit from tolling (the clock may pause until adulthood), but special notice rules can still apply in cases involving public entities. Some sexual abuse claims have extended timeframes. Other injury claims may run earlier. The safest move is to contact us now so we can preserve your rights and file on time.

How We Build a Persuasive Narrative

We tell the child’s story clearly: who they are, what was missed, and how the harm happened. We show causation with medical evidence, expert testimony, and simple visuals-placement maps, visit timelines, and records that highlight each failure. Witnesses and mandatory reporters are prepared to testify with clarity and compassion.

Why Choose Goldberg & Goldberg LLC

Illinois Focus & Local Knowledge: Chicago-based, Illinois courts and procedures.
Child-First, Trauma-Informed Advocacy: Fewer interviews, more protection.
Deep Resources: Top pediatric and psychological experts; life-care planners.
Trial-Ready: Prepared from day one, which drives better settlements.
Relentless Case Development: We follow the facts to every door of responsibility.

FAQs: Foster Care Abuse and Neglect

1) What is “foster care abuse and neglect”?

It’s harm to a child placed in state care-physical, sexual, or emotional abuse-or lack of supervision and medical care. It can happen in foster homes, group homes, or facilities.

2) How do I report suspected abuse?

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also call the appropriate child welfare hotline. Then call 312-368-0255 so our team can help protect your child and preserve evidence.

3) Can I sue DCFS or a private child welfare agency?

Yes, you can. Liability may involve negligent placement, missed home visits, or policy failures. Cases against public entities have special rules and deadlines that we handle.

4) Will my child have to testify?

Not always. Many cases resolve without live testimony. If testimony is needed, we use child-sensitive procedures and protective orders when available.

5) What compensation might be available?

Medical and therapy costs, educational supports, future care, pain and suffering, and in some cases punitive damages.

6) How long do these cases take?

It varies by complexity and number of defendants. We push for timely outcomes while preparing each case for trial.

7) What if DCFS marked the report “unfounded”?

An “unfounded” label doesn’t end a civil case. We independently investigate, obtain records, and use experts to prove what happened.

8) How much does it cost to hire your firm?

We typically work on a contingency fee-you pay nothing unless we make a financial recovery. We explain everything in a free consultation.

Call to Action: Free, Confidential Case Review

If your child suffered harm in a foster home, group home, hospital, or state-run facility, Goldberg & Goldberg LLC is ready to help. Call 312-368-0255 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We act quickly to protect children, preserve evidence, and pursue justice.

Client Reviews

“You won't find a group of attorneys that will be more dedicated to your case, and doing all the research needed to effectively present it. I especially know the qualifications of Joseph Preiser, one of Goldberg's very successful attorneys. Highly recommend them to one and all.”

Gary Myers

Submit a Law Firm Client Review