Through its pro bono program, Bates White was retained by Children’s Rights, a national advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children living in foster and other government systems. Children’s Rights filed a suit on behalf of children in Alabama’s foster system, alleging that the Alabama Department of Human Resources discriminates against children with mental impairments by unnecessarily segregating them in restrictive institutional placements.
Children’s Rights retained Mathis Wagner to evaluate data related to children’s intake into restrictive facilities and the outcomes of those placements. Dr. Wagner provided statistical analysis of voluminous, disparate data sources related to children placed in intensive residential facilities and less restrictive settings such as therapeutic foster care. He analyzed the process by which children in intensive residential facilities are stepped down into less restrictive settings, evaluated whether less restrictive placements had sufficient capacity to accommodate children, and assessed the rate at which those settings accepted and rejected children referred to their care.
Dr. Wagner submitted reports and provided deposition testimony. The case is ongoing.