Mississippi foster care system fails to meet dozens of safety requirements, new report says
Mississippi’s foster care system continues to endanger children under its care at higher rates than a federal court order permits, according to a new report for a federal lawsuit the state…
A recent report reveals that Mississippi's foster care system has been failing to meet numerous safety requirements, putting children under its care at higher risk compared to federal court guidelines. The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services only adhered to 22 out of 107 necessary safety measures in the majority of 2025, according to a court monitor.
These issues include excessive abuse and neglect rates among foster children, frequent placement in unlicensed facilities or with relatives before completion of background checks, and inadequate caseworker visits. The report also highlights undercounting of abuse incidents and insufficient information to assess the fulfillment of certain requirements.
However, the monitor did note improvements in caseworker workload and decreased instances of foster children being placed in overcrowded homes. The latest report is the first full court monitor assessment since 2021, when both sides acknowledged the department's inability to meet the settlement's demands. Department Commissioner Andrea Sanders claims that the state has since implemented significant policy and organizational changes, including staffing improvements and technological upgrades, to enhance the foster care system.
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