Donaldson v. Archuleta Settlement Agreement and Full Release

This lawsuit challenged Alameda County’s failure to comply with the minimum child welfare health and safety standards of care imposed by state law. Alameda County failed every child welfare services audit conducted by the State Department of Social Services during the fifteen years prior to the filing of the lawsuit in January, 2001. The lawsuit sought to improve the delivery of child welfare services in Alameda County and enforce the standards of care imposed by state law.

Alameda County came into compliance with the state child welfare health and safety standards in 2002. The lawsuit was settled in 2003 with the county agreeing to develop an internal quality assurance program to monitor the county’s ongoing compliance with state standards.