A federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 5,800 youths alleges San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, an agency that was deemed "too broken to fix" by a civil grand jury, failed to protect children under its care and at times placed them in danger.
The lawsuit filed Thursday morning claims that overburdened caseworkers are unable to perform required visits and inspections of foster homes, and that the agency fails to properly vet homes and families where children are placed, sometimes with dire consequences.
"In extreme cases, CFS has even placed children with known, registered sex offenders," according to the lawsuit.
