State will preserve payments for foster, adopted kids

An Indiana agency won't cut daily payments to caregivers for more than 21,000 adopted and foster children under a proposed lawsuit settlement.

Attorney Ken Falk of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana said Wednesday that the proposed settlement would bar the Department of Child Services from making a proposed 10 percent reduction in the $25 maximum daily payment that parents and guardians receive for the needs of foster children and some adopted children with special needs.

A judge is expected to sign the agreement in January.

State agency spokeswoman Ann Houseworth says the case affects payments to about 10,500 foster children and more than 11,000 adopted children.

The pending settlement was first reported by WRTV-TV.