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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- For 14 years Utah's child welfare system has operated under a looming lawsuit by the National Center for Youth Law.
Now, the center is calling Utah's system one of the best in the country and an agreement has been filed to terminate the lawsuit.
The center sued Utah in 1993 over what it said were constitutionally unsafe conditions in the foster care system.
Instead of challenging the suit, the state settled the case agreeing to systemwide reforms.
The Oakland-based center says the results are impressive. An attorney for the center says other states can now look to Utah as a model for how to turn a child welfare system around.
The agreement was filed yesterday in federal court. The state must undergo one more review. If it passes muster, the case will be dismissed December 31, 2008.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
