MSAG Office seeks to end court oversight over state welfare system

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch says the state is asking a federal judge to end court oversight of Mississippi’s child welfare system.

The oversight stems from the Olivia Y. Lawsuit, which was filed over two decades ago.

Fitch says the state has spent more than $25 million on the case and has made major improvements, including lower caseloads for child protection workers, more foster homes, and increased funding for child protective services.

If approved, the move would end years of federal monitoring of Mississippi’s foster care system, but the matter remains in active litigation at this time.