Foster Care Abuse Lawyer in Westwood, Kansas
Children in foster care depend on adults and institutions to protect them during some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. When that trust is violated through abuse, the harm can be devastating and long-lasting.
Families often feel shocked, angry, and deep sorrow when they learn a child was hurt while under state supervision. You may be struggling to understand how abuse could happen in a system meant to provide safety or wondering whether anyone will be held responsible.
If you’re facing the reality of foster care abuse, you deserve answers and support. At Steven A. Ediger, I’ve practiced law in Kansas since the early 1980s, and for decades I’ve worked with individuals and families affected by serious injury and negligence. If you believe a child was abused while in foster care, reach out to me to explain your specific situation, and I'll gladly provide the steps available.
Signs of Foster Care Abuse
Foster care abuse is often hidden, especially when children feel afraid to speak up or don’t believe they’ll be believed. Many families only realize something is wrong after noticing subtle but troubling changes in a child’s behavior or physical condition.
Trauma, fear of retaliation, or lack of trust in adults can keep them silent. That’s why it’s so important for caregivers, family members, teachers, and medical providers to take concerns seriously and act quickly when red flags appear. Common signs of foster care abuse may include:
Unexplained injuries: Bruises, burns, or fractures without clear explanations.
Behavioral changes: Sudden withdrawal, aggression, fearfulness, or anxiety.
Regression: Loss of previously developed skills or age-appropriate behaviors.
Sexualized behavior: Actions or language that aren’t appropriate for the child’s age.
Fear of caregivers: Extreme reluctance to return to a placement or be alone with confident adults.
When these signs are overlooked or dismissed, abuse can continue unchecked. Legal action can help uncover why warnings were ignored and hold agencies or individuals accountable for failing to protect the child.
How I Help Families Affected by Foster Care Abuse
When families contact me about foster care abuse, they’re often overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. My priority is listening carefully to your concerns and the child’s experience. These cases require sensitivity, patience, and a careful review of what went wrong.
I help families pursue civil claims related to foster care abuse by examining placement records, agency reports, and prior complaints. The focus is on identifying who allowed the abuse to happen and who failed to stop it once concerns were raised. I support clients during foster care abuse cases by:
Carefully reviewing your case: Analyzing foster care files, medical records, and incident reports.
Identifying system failures: Looking at screening, supervision, and response issues.
Assisting with civil litigation: Seeking compensation for medical treatment, therapy, and long-term care.
Offering clear communication: Explaining legal options so you understand each step of the process.
These cases can be emotionally taxing, especially for families supporting a child through recovery. My role is to manage the legal process while maintaining accountability and the child’s well-being.
Seek the Help You Need
Types of Abuse in Foster Care
Foster care abuse can be physical, emotional, or sexual, and each type can leave lasting effects. Children in care may struggle to report abuse due to fear, confusion, or lack of trust in adults. That’s why oversight and prompt action are so important.
Abuse may occur in foster homes, group homes, or other placements, and it often goes hand in hand with negligent supervision. Recognizing the different forms of abuse can help families understand what may have happened and why legal action matters. Common forms of foster care abuse include:
Physical abuse: Injuries caused by violent behavior or inappropriate discipline.
Emotional abuse: Ongoing mistreatment that harms a child’s mental health or development.
Sexual abuse: Exploitation or assault by caregivers or others with access to the child.
Psychological neglect: Intimidation, isolation, or exposure to unsafe situations.
Civil claims can help provide resources for counseling, medical care, and other support services a child may need to heal. They also bring attention to failures that allowed abuse to occur.
Negligence That Allows Foster Care Abuse to Continue
Abuse in foster care rarely happens in isolation. It’s often enabled by negligence, such as poor caregiver screening, missed home visits, or failure to act on reports. When agencies don’t follow their own policies, children can remain in harmful environments far longer than they should.
Negligence may involve ignoring prior complaints, failing to remove a child after confirmed concerns, or placing children in overcrowded or understaffed facilities. These failures can turn warning signs into tragedies. Examples of negligence linked to foster care abuse include:
Inadequate screening: Approving caregivers without proper background checks.
Lack of supervision: Missing required visits or evaluations.
Ignored reports: Dismissing concerns raised by teachers, doctors, or family members.
Delayed intervention: Waiting too long to remove a child from a dangerous placement.
Holding agencies accountable for negligence helps highlight systemic issues and can reduce the risk of future harm to other children.
Foster Care Abuse and Wrongful Death
In the most severe cases, foster care abuse or neglect can result in a child’s death. These situations are devastating for families and raise serious questions about oversight and responsibility. Wrongful death claims may arise when abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions contributed to a child’s passing. Circumstances that may lead to foster care wrongful death claims include:
Severe abuse: Physical violence or intentional harm.
Extreme neglect: Failure to provide food, supervision, or medical care.
Unsafe environments: Dangerous living conditions without basic safety measures.
Ignored risks: Prior warnings or documented concerns that weren’t addressed.
While no legal action can undo such a loss, pursuing a claim can help families obtain answers, financial support, and a measure of accountability that may prevent similar tragedies.
Foster Care Abuse Lawyer Serving Westwood, Kansas
If a child you love was abused while in foster care, help is available. I serve clients in Westwood, Kansas, and throughout Kansas and Missouri. I’m committed to helping families hold themselves accountable. Reach out to me, Steven A. Ediger, today to discuss your situation and take the next step forward. Together, you and I can find a solution.