Catholic Charities to Close Large Foster-Care Program

Catholic Charities plans to close its long-running foster-care program in the Chicago metropolitan area, reports the Associated Press.

Facing financial difficulty after a $12-million lawsuit payment, the program decided to close at the end of June because its insurer would no longer provide coverage and another insurer could not be found. The lawsuit, which was settled last year, pertained to allegations that foster parents licensed by the program abused three children.

Other agencies will have to take on the program’s 900 children. Federal and state money that went to Catholic Charities will be redirected to these agencies. Catholic Charities will continue to offer other services to its 895,000 clients in the area.

Catholic Charities’ spokeswoman, April Specht, said, “It’s not a political decision, it’s not a fiscal decision. We just can’t operate without insurance.”

The foster-care program had been in operation since 1921.