Justice Department Asserts Violation of ADA in LA County Foster Care, Backs Plaintiffs Against Unnecessary Segregation of Youth with Mental Health Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken a stand in a current legal dispute, filing a statement of interest concerning the fate of youth with mental health disabilities in the foster care system managed by Los Angeles County and the State of California. The statement supports the plaintiffs’ claims of unnecessary segregation in these institutions. According to the

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California

, these entities may be violating federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Olmstead v. L.C., by failing to provide access to appropriate housing, behavioral health services, and other critical resources that could facilitate their integration into community settings.

Plaintiffs in the case, identified as transition-age foster youth, argue that the current system improperly segregates them due to mental health disabilities. This approach not only defies the integration mandate but also, under the ADA, public entities are prohibited from placing individuals with disabilities at serious risk of institutionalization, as per the

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California

.

United States Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Youth with disabilities who do not receive the critical services that they need to thrive in the community often end up in a vicious cycle of institutionalization.” He further stressed that “Under the law, people with disabilities deserve to live and receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, such as in their homes and communities,” as stated by the

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California

.

The DOJ’s recent involvement brings to light the complexity of laws meant to protect the most vulnerable among us. It underscores a contention that systemic oversight and administration of service systems that fall short have real consequences for real people, advocates say, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Xu and her team providing legal expertise in support of the statement of interest. Individuals who wish to lay complaints about civil rights violations in the Central District of California can do so by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Section, as provided by

public information officer Ciaran McEvoy

.

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