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Foster Care Sexual Abuse

Lawyers representing survivors of sexual abuse in foster homes in Washington, DC

A retrospective study examining reports of maltreatment during foster care placements found that sexual abuse accounted for roughly 68% of incidents reported retrospectively by former foster youth. If this figure wasn’t concerning enough, experts believe incidents of sexual abuse in foster homes are likely underreported for a number of reasons.

Foster children are incredibly vulnerable and deserve to be placed with families that will prioritize their safety and well-being. When a foster family fails to protect a child from abuse – or perpetrates abuse themselves – they deserve to be held accountable under D.C. law. At Nace Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we represent survivors in civil sexual abuse claims in order to help them recover compensation for the harm they endured.

While we do not prosecute criminal sexual abuse cases, we firmly believe that civil litigation can play a critical role in holding abusers and enablers accountable while providing survivors with the resources they need to move forward.

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How can we help?

● Understanding D.C.’s foster care system
● How sexual abuse unfolds in foster care
● Can foster care agencies be held liable for sexual abuse?
● Government liability in foster care sexual abuse cases
● What damages are available in foster care sexual abuse cases?
● Frequently asked questions
● How Nace Law Group helps survivors of foster care abuse

Understanding D.C.’s foster care system

In the first quarter of 2026, Washington, D.C. reported that there were over 500 children and young adults within the foster care system. The aim of the foster care system is to provide safe, temporary homes for children who cannot stay in their current homes due to concerns about their well-being or the well-being of their caregivers. Here in D.C., the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) oversees the foster care system and is subsequently responsible for vetting potential foster parents, placing children in foster homes, and monitoring the safety of those placements.

In Washington, D.C., foster care is available to children of all ages, from infancy up to age 21 (if a young adult has not reached permanency before that age). Children may be placed in foster care for a variety of reasons, such as:

Abuse or neglect in the home
Parental incarceration
Drug or alcohol abuse in the home
Abandonment
Mental health challenges that impact a parent’s caregiving capabilities
Other unsafe living conditions that put kids at risk

Children who are removed from unsafe situations may be placed with licensed foster families, sent to live with relatives, placed in group homes, or given short-term emergency placements pending further developments. In any scenario, the adults entrusted with taking in foster children are subject to strict screening and supervision requirements to ensure no further harm comes to the young people in their care.

Still, despite these safeguards, abuse and neglect of various forms are far too common within the foster care system. Sexual abuse in this context can be particularly egregious, as foster children are uniquely vulnerable due to their circumstances. Foster children don’t just depend on their foster families to meet their needs; they rely on CFSA and other regulatory bodies to ensure they are being properly cared for and protected from further harm.

How sexual abuse unfolds in foster care

Sexual abuse in foster care can be difficult to monitor because it can take many forms and may involve a variety of perpetrators. Nevertheless, research suggests that youth in foster care are more likely to experience sexual abuse throughout their lifetime than their peers. In some cases, abuse is committed by a foster parent or caregiver. In others, the perpetrator may be another adult living in the home or even another foster child.

Foster children may be sexually abused by:

Their foster parents
Household members, like extended family or significant others
Foster siblings or the biological children of their foster parents
Third parties like teachers, coaches, and religious leaders

Foster parents can, in some cases, be held legally responsible for abuse that occurs in their home, even if they were not the person who committed the abuse. If a foster parent knew – or reasonably should have known – that their foster child was being abused and failed to take action, they may bear some level of responsibility for any resulting harm. If you were sexually abused while in foster care, an experienced foster care sexual abuse lawyer in D.C. can help you determine who can and should be held responsible under the law.

Can foster care agencies be held liable for sexual abuse?

One major difference between civil and criminal law is the fact that civil litigation can focus on individual perpetrators as well as institutions that contribute to abuse in some way. Since foster care agencies have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in protecting children placed in foster homes, they may be held liable for sexual abuse if their negligence contributed to or allowed the abuse to occur.

Here are some examples of institutional negligence that may open up a foster care agency to claims of liability in a sexual abuse case:

Failure to screen prospective foster families

Agencies must conduct thorough background checks and screenings of all prospective foster parents to ensure children are being placed with safe and responsible adults. If an agency cuts corners during this process, it may end up placing children with unsafe or unqualified foster parents. If a foster care agency failed to properly screen a foster home and abuse later occurred in that placement, you may have grounds to pursue a civil claim against the agency.

Failure to monitor the home

An agency’s legal duty of care does not stop once a child is placed in a foster home. Agencies are expected to continue monitoring the home by having a caseworker regularly follow up with the parents and conduct home visits. When agencies shirk these responsibilities, they often miss important warning signs of abuse and leave children vulnerable to prolonged harm.

Failure to investigate complaints

In D.C., certain individuals are required by law to report any suspicions or disclosures of child abuse. Once a report is received, agencies have a responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure no children are in danger. If an agency fails to investigate a report of sexual abuse or attempts to sweep the report under the rug in some way, they could be found civilly liable for their contribution to the abuse. The same can be said for agencies that fail to remove children from unsafe placements after they’ve been made aware of credible allegations of sexual abuse.

An experienced D.C. child welfare abuse attorney can help survivors determine whether a foster care agency’s negligence contributed to the abuse they suffered and take steps to hold responsible agencies accountable under the law.

Government liability in foster care sexual abuse cases

In Washington, D.C., the child welfare system is operated by government agencies and licensed organizations, which raises some important questions about liability in foster care abuse cases. One of the most challenging hurdles in these cases is the fact that government entities have legal protections known as sovereign immunity that can shield them from certain types of lawsuits.

Sovereign immunity may not apply in every case, and it may not extend to certain contracted organizations whose negligence contributed to a survivor’s abuse. This is yet another reason why survivors should consult with a trusted foster care sexual abuse lawyer who can help them determine whether a government entity can be held liable in their case. Even if you cannot hold a specific government entity legally responsible for your abuse, there may be other parties involved in your case that do not benefit from governmental legal protections.

What damages are available in foster care sexual abuse cases?

Sexual abuse of any kind can have a lasting impact on a survivor’s mental and physical well-being. Many survivors experience a variety of personal and professional challenges that take time and resources to overcome – most of which come at a price. Civil lawsuits for foster care sexual abuse are aimed at helping survivors recover the compensation they need to account for these losses and provide for their future needs.

Survivors of foster care sexual abuse may choose to seek compensation for:

Medical expenses related to the abuse
Counseling and therapy to address the emotional impact of their abuse
Prescription medication for physical and psychiatric conditions
Lost earning capacity resulting from trauma
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and psychological harm

Sometimes clients worry about how they will be perceived by others for pursuing financial compensation related to their abuse. At Nace Law Group, we want our clients to know that compensation is not intended to undo the harm they suffered but is meant to help them ensure their needs are met moving forward.

Every loss, every change, and every ounce of pain you endured is valid and deserving of recognition. Sometimes, that recognition comes in the form of criminal charges against a perpetrator. Other times, it comes in the form of financial compensation for your losses. Regardless of whether criminal charges were filed or a conviction was obtained against your abuser, our team is here to help you understand the full scope of your rights under D.C. law.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sue D.C. government agencies for foster care abuse?

Because our local government is responsible for overseeing foster care agencies and other organizations, survivors may be within their rights to pursue legal action against the government for foster care sexual abuse in some cases. Sovereign immunity can complicate these cases, so it’s important to speak to an experienced attorney who can advise you of your options based on the facts of your case.

What if the abuse occurred in multiple foster placements?

Unfortunately, some children experience abuse in more than one placement while in foster care. When this happens, multiple individuals may be considered liable for perpetrating abuse, as well as certain institutions that may have contributed. If a foster care agency repeatedly failed to protect a child from harm, a survivor may be able to hold the agency accountable for its negligence via civil litigation.

Are foster care agencies liable for abuse?

Sometimes. If a foster care agency’s negligence contributed to a child's abuse, the agency may be considered liable under D.C. law. Negligence in these cases may look like failing to adequately screen potential foster parents, failing to properly investigate reports of misconduct, or failing to remove a child from a dangerous environment, among other things.

What if the abuse happened years ago?

Under D.C. law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse may still be able to pursue civil legal action against their abusers well into adulthood. Specifically, if an individual was abused before the age of 35, they have until their 40th birthday – or within five years of discovering their abuse – to file a claim for compensation (whichever is later). An experienced lawyer can help survivors determine whether they are within the statute of limitations to file a claim and provide them with guidance about the next steps.

How Nace Law Group helps survivors of foster care abuse

Nace Law Group is a civil personal injury law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse throughout Washington, D.C. Whether you suffered sexual abuse while in foster care several years ago or are advocating for a child who was abused more recently, our team is here to help you understand your options.

While we do not prosecute foster care abuse cases in criminal court, we pride ourselves on providing compassionate, trauma-informed legal support to survivors looking to pursue civil litigation against those who perpetrated or enabled their abuse. Our experienced team knows what it takes to conduct thorough investigations into claims of foster care abuse and gather the evidence and documentation our clients need to build a compelling case for compensation.

If you or someone you know was the victim of sexual abuse while in the Washington, D.C. foster care system, you may be within your rights to file a civil claim against the individual and/or institutions responsible. Fill out our online contact form or stop by our Georgetown office – 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW #810, Washington, D.C. – to schedule a confidential consultation with a member of our team and to discuss your options for pursuing compensation.