Malpractice in child placement: civil liability for inadequate foster care services.

Civil liability for professional malpractice has become a major concern of child welfare workers and their agencies. For example, the 1982 Annual Meeting of the American Humane Association focused its agenda on caseworker liability. Also, the National Association of Social Workers has formed a special ad hoc group on caseworker liability, started publishing materials on the subject, and encouraged its members to take out insurance to protect themselves from lawsuits. And, finally, more articles on liability are being published—a sure sign of interest and concern [1]. Most attention, however, has focused on the civil (and criminal) liability of