Katie A. v. Bontá

NCYL is co-counsel in the case of Katie A. v. Bontá, a child welfare reform class action against the California Department of Health Services (DHS), Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The plaintiffs brought suit for declaratory and injunctive relief under provisions of the Medicaid Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and state statutes. The suit challenged the County and State agencies for neglecting their duties to provide necessary and legally mandated health care services to California’s foster children with mental health needs. On June 19, 2003, the Court granted class certification.