FIDJ Stands Up for Children Abused and Neglected by a Foster Care System Meant to Protect Them
FIDJ: Florida Foster Home Abuse, Neglect, and Wrongful Death Lawyers
When a child is removed from their family and placed into foster care, the promise is safety and protection. Families are told the system will keep children safe until they can return home or find stability. But too often, that promise is broken, and children suffer abuse, neglect, or worse.
At FIDJ, we represent children and families betrayed by the foster care system.
If your child was neglected, abused, or died while in foster care, we will fight for answers — and for justice.
Every child's story is different, but the red flags of foster home abuse and neglect often look the same...
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Unexplained injuries such as bruises, broken bones, or frequent accidents
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Sudden changes in behavior, including withdrawal, fearfulness, or aggression
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Signs of poor hygiene, malnutrition, or lack of medical care
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Fear of going back into foster placement or back to a particular foster home
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Regression in behavior (such as bedwetting or loss of language skills)
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Reluctance to speak when foster care caretakers and/or staff are present
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Reports of aggression, threats, or bullying from other children, caretakers, or staff
When these warning signs are ignored, the consequences can be devastating. While nothing can undo the harm already done, FIDJ holds the foster care system accountable and fights to deliver justice for children and their families.
Children Do Not Choose to Enter the System
In Foster Homes
Why Children End Up
In Florida, children enter the foster care system for many different reasons. The most common is neglect or a parent’s inability to provide safe and consistent care, often tied to poverty, substance abuse, or untreated mental illness. Some are removed due to confirmed or alleged abuse, including physical or sexual harm. Others are taken into care while the Department of Children and Families investigates allegations against a parent, even before the claims are proven. Children may also enter foster care after a parent’s death, imprisonment, or incapacity.
Whatever the circumstances, children do not choose to enter the system. Many arrive carrying trauma, fear, and loss. That is why the foster care system, and especially foster group homes, must uphold the most basic promise: to provide safety, stability, and protection. When that promise is broken and children are harmed, the system must be held accountable.
What is Foster Home Abuse?
Foster home abuse occurs when a child is harmed physically, emotionally, or sexually by a foster parent, caregiver, or someone else in the home, including other foster children. In many cases, the abuse is intentional and also involves intimidation, coercion, or exploitation. Children in foster care are especially vulnerable because they are separated from their families and may feel isolated or afraid to speak up. They often lack the support system that could help protect them, and when agencies fail to monitor or respond, the abuse can continue unchecked.
What is Foster Home Neglect?
Foster home neglect occurs when a child’s basic needs are ignored. This can include failing to provide proper food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision, or education. Neglect can be just as harmful as abuse, leaving children malnourished, unsafe, or emotionally scarred. Children in foster care are especially vulnerable because they rely entirely on their caregivers for safety and stability. When those caregivers fail to meet even the most basic needs, the consequences can be devastating.
How a Florida Foster Home Abuse, Neglect, & Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help
Foster home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death cases are not like ordinary personal injury claims. They involve highly regulated environments, sensitive issues, complex medical records, various state agencies and contracted providers, and foster homes, all of which are often backed by teams of defense lawyers and insurance companies. Without an experienced foster/group home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death lawyer, families may be led into accepting low settlements that don’t reflect the harm done or misled by claims that the child's injuries were “unavoidable.” A lawyer who understands foster/group home operations knows where to find the most important evidence, how to secure it before it disappears, and how to use it to hold those responsibile accountable.
Experience Matters: Why FIDJ is the Right Choice for Your Foster Home Abuse, Neglect, or Wrongful Death Case
At FIDJ, we don’t take every type of personal injury case. We focus our injury practice on abuse, neglect, and wrongful death claims involving:
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Florida nursing homes (also known as skilled nursing facilities),
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Florida assisted living facilities,
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Florida group homes (for adults with disabilities),
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Florida foster homes, and
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Florida adult day care centers
This is where our experience matters. We understand the unique laws designed to protect vulnerable children, and we know how to hold facilities accountable when they violate those laws.
When you hire FIDJ, you get focused lawyers that:
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Previously spent decades on the other side, defending care facilities.
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Have over 73 years of combined litigation and trial experience.
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Handle cases from start to finish, including jury trials, when needed.
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Pursue maximum compensation to cover medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages when justified.
We’re not a volume personal injury firm trying to cover every practice area from dog bites to car accidents. Instead, our injury lawyers are laser-focused on holding nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, adult day care centers, and foster homes accountable when they fail to meet their obligations and harm vulnerable children.
We Don't Get Paid Unless We Recover
At FIDJ, we handle foster care home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront and no attorney’s fees at all unless we recover compensation for you. We invest the time, resources, and expertise needed to take on foster care homes and their insurance companies, and we take on all the financial risk so you don’t have to. If there’s no recovery, you owe us nothing.
Evidence
Doesn't Last Forever.
In foster care home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death cases, time is critical, not just because of legal deadlines (known as Statutes of Limitation), but because vital evidence can disappear. Foster homes may lose or erase surveillance footage, staff with critical first-hand knowledge may leave or become unreachable, and records can be “lost” or altered. Acting quickly helps preserve the proof needed to hold foster homes accountable.
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Types of Foster Homes in Florida
When a child cannot remain safely with their parents, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) may place them in different types of foster homes or residential settings. Each type of placement is intended to provide safety and support, but abuse and neglect can happen in any of them. Below is a list of the different types of foster homes in Florida and their intended purpose.
At-Risk House
Provides care and support for children and youth who are at risk of becoming sex trafficking victims.
Emergency Shelter
Offers 24-hour care and supervision for youth who need a safe place to stay on a temporary basis.
Maternity Home
Provides care and specialized support for pregnant, parenting, or post-partum youth.
Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)
Licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and credentialed by DCF, these programs provide treatment for youth with serious emotional or behavioral disorders.
Behavioral Qualified Residential Treatment Program (BQRTP)
A specialized setting for youth with severe emotional or behavioral disorders. Children are often admitted because of significant maladaptive behaviors.
Residential Group Home
Meets the physical, emotional, and social needs of children in a structured, family-style environment.
Runaway Shelter
Provides 24-hour care and supervision for children who are in conflict with their parents, who have run away, or who have been recovered after going missing.
Safe House
Certified by DCF to provide 24-hour care and supervision for children who have been sexually exploited, as required by Florida Statute § 409.1678.
Traditional Group Home
Provides care for children in a setting with a licensed bed capacity of no more than 14. These homes are often located in single-family or multi-family communities.
Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program (URMP)
A federally funded and state-administered program that provides care for unaccompanied refugee minors, as outlined in Rule 65F-1.001, F.A.C.
Wilderness Camp
Combines outdoor living and structured care to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of children.
No matter the type of home or program, every child in Florida foster care has the right to safety, dignity, and proper treatment. Sadly, cases of foster home abuse and neglect can occur in any of these settings. If a child has been harmed in foster care, the child's legal representative has the right to take legal action and hold agencies, foster homes, and caregivers accountable.
Who May Bring a Lawsuit on Behalf of a Foster Child?
When a child suffers abuse or neglect in a foster home, the first question is: who has the legal right to act on the child's behalf? Florida law divides this authority based on the status of a parents' rights.
When Parental Rights Remain Intact
Under Fla. Stat. § 744.301, parents are the natural guardians of their minor children. As natural guardians, parents typically have the authority to bring lawsuits for injuries to their children, even if the child is in foster care. In these cases, the parents remain the first line of authority to pursue a claim.
When Parental Rights Have Been Terminated
Once a court terminates parental rights, biological parents no longer have standing. Authority then shifts depending on the child’s situation:
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Adoptive Parents: Once adoption is finalized, adoptive parents assume full parental authority and may pursue claims on behalf of the child.
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Court-Appointed Guardians: A guardian of the person or guardian of the property may be appointed by the court to act on the child’s behalf.
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Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the State: When a child is in state custody, DCF or its representatives may exercise authority to protect the child’s rights.
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Next Friend: If no parent or guardian is available or appropriate, Florida law allows a responsible adult to bring a lawsuit as a “next friend,” subject to court oversight
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Florida Foster Home Cases
I’m not sure if I have a case against a Florida foster home. Can I speak with an attorney at FIDJ?
Absolutely. You can and should reach out to us if you have any concerns or suspicions regarding Florida foster home abuse or neglect. Our experienced attorneys are available to evaluate your situation and provide guidance on a path forward.
I cannot afford a lawyer. Can I still hire you to sue a Florida foster home for abuse, neglect, or wrongful death?
Yes. The experienced injury attorneys at FIDJ work on a contingency fee basis. That means, we only get paid if there is a monetary recovery associated with your case.
How long do I have to file a Florida foster home abuse, neglect, or wrongful death lawsuit?
In Florida, group home injury cases must be brought within two (2) years of the date of injury and/or the date of death. This two (2) year deadline is known as a “statute of limitations”. However, do not delay as there may be prior injuries that you do not know about. In addition, many care providers have notoriously high staff turnover rates. Therefore, unnecessary delay can make it more difficult to locate potential witnesses. To learn more about the applicable statute of limitations, check out our blog, "The Deadline to File a Florida Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility, Group Home, or Adult Day Care Center Abuse or Neglect Case."
How long do Florida foster home lawsuits last?
Each case is unique. While some cases settle before a lawsuit is filed, other cases require a trial. As a rule of thumb, however, you can expect a jury trial within two (2) years of filing your lawsuit. The finality of cases can be extended by the appellate process. If your case is subject to a valid arbitration clause, you can generally expect a quicker resolution.
Are you going to handle my case or refer it to another law firm?
We are not an attorney referral service. If we take your Florida foster home case, we will handle your Florida foster home case.
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We Proudly Represent Clients In and Around These Major Florida Cities
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers, Boca Raton, Hollywood, Lakeland, Ocala, Pensacola, Gainesville, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Port St. Lucie, Melbourne, Tallahassee, Kissimmee, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Vero Beach, St. Augustine, Port Charlotte, Panama City
...and these Florida regions
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South Florida, Central Florida, North Florida, the Gulf Coast, Treasure Coast, Space Coast, the Panhandle, the Keys, Suncoast, Nature Coast, Big Bend, Emerald Coast, and First Coast.
What that Means
If you are searching for a "nursing home abuse lawyer near me", an "assisted living facility abuse lawyer near me", a "group home abuse lawyer near me", or an "adult day care center abuse lawyer near me", FIDJ has you covered.
Do you need an attorney who handles cases near you or your loved one? Our attorneys handle cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect, assisted living facility abuse and neglect, group home abuse and neglect, foster care abuse and and neglect, and adult day care center abuse and neglect in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.