Oregon’s foster care system could soon face additional monitoring and forced improvements, under a potential settlement agreement being negotiated this week between the state and plaintiffs in a federal class action lawsuit.
A yet-to-be-appointed monitor could track the Oregon child welfare system’s progress improving foster care for up to a decade, according to a broad outline of possible settlement terms filed recently in federal court. That timeline could be extended if the state fails to make adequate progress improving outcomes for babies, children and teens.