RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is
investigating whether the South Dakota Department of Social
Services has violated federal law by removing Native American
children from their homes and inappropriately placing them in
foster care.
The ACLU announced the investigation Tuesday. In a news release,
the organization says the probe was sparked by a National Public
Radio series titled "Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered
Families." That series aired last week and reported that Native
American children represent more than half of all children in
foster care despite accounting for only 15 percent of the state's
child population.
The report has staffers of Gov. Dennis Daugaard on the
defensive, calling it unfair and biased. But two members of the
U.S. house of Representatives have called for a federal
investigation.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-11-01-11 1747EDT
E-Mail
Print