The Kenny A. vs. Sonny Perdue Consent Decree

In June 2002, Children’s Rights, Incorporated out of New York, filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Georgia on behalf of children in the state’s legal custody. The lawsuit alleged violations of constitutional and statutory rights arising out of the operation of the state’s foster care systems in Fulton and DeKalb counties. In October 2005, the plaintiffs and defendants settled the lawsuit under the Kenny A. vs. Sonny Perdue Consent Decree. 

The Kenny A. vs. Perdue Consent Decree established James T. Dimas and Sarah A. Morrison as independent accountability agents with the responsibility of monitoring the state’s progress and producing public reports every six months. The first report was produced on Nov. 10, 2006. Since then, reports have been released every six months. Georgia State University provides data support.

See published reports

Under the terms and conditions of the Kenny A. Consent Decree, the State is to achieve and sustain 31 outcomes, as well as maintain certain practice standards related to service planning, placement experience, healthcare, investigation of maltreatment allegations concerning children in foster care, court reviews and reporting. Some of these standards are new requirements for administrators and case managers, and others are existing agency policy and practice requirements receiving heightened attention. In addition, the consent decree stipulates various state and county infrastructure requirements. These stipulations pertain to automation, caseload sizes, training, supervision of private providers, foster parent licensing, and financing. 

For additional information, please contact Kenny A. State Office Staff.