The Washington foster care abuse lawyers at Fuller & Fuller stand with survivors. For more than 50 years, our family-led firm has fought to protect the rights of those harmed by others, including children and adults who have suffered abuse in Washington’s foster care system.
If you suspect a child you know is suffering from foster care abuse or if you have been the victim of abuse yourself, reporting the issue is incredibly important. More than just the right thing to do, it’s the first step in protecting vulnerable children and holding those responsible for their mistreatment to full account.
Reporting Foster Care Abuse in Washington State
In Washington, foster care abuse can be reported in multiple ways:
- If there is immediate danger, call 911
- To report non-emergency abuse or neglect, call Washington’s 24/7 hotline at 1-866-END-HARM.
- You can also find your local intake number or report foster care abuse online through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families.
When making a report, be sure to have as much information as possible, including the name of the child, the suspected abuser’s name and role in the child’s life, the type of abuse suspected, and where the child is currently located.
You don’t need definitive proof of abuse to make a report. Reasonable suspicion is enough. Once a report is made, the state will begin an investigation to determine the next best steps.
Fuller & Fuller Is Here to Help
When claims of abuse are ignored or mishandled, or when abuse results in serious physical or emotional harm, state agencies may not be effective at helping you seek justice. This is where having a foster care abuse attorney on your side helps. A lawyer can work to uncover signs of abuse, determine who is responsible, and help in seeking the full and fair compensation survivors are owed.
To schedule a FREE and confidential consultation with one of the Washington foster care abuse lawyers at Fuller & Fuller, call us at 800-570-4878 today. We have offices in Tacoma and Olympia. We help foster care abuse survivors seek justice throughout the state.
How Long Do I Have to Report Foster Care Abuse in Washington?
Washington law recognizes that trauma, especially trauma inflicted in childhood, can take years to fully understand or process. However, there are different statutes of limitations depending on the type of foster care abuse that occurred.
Sexual Abuse
Survivors of sexual abuse in a foster or group home in Washington may have several years to file a civil claim against their wrongdoers:
- There is no statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse that occurred on or after June 6, 2024.
- For abuse that occurred before this date, survivors typically have three years to file a claim, starting from the latest of:
- The date of the abusive act
- The date the survivor discovered that the injury was caused by abuse
- The date the survivor discovered that the act caused the injury for which the claim is brought.
Exceptions to Washington’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children are outlined in RCW § 4.16.340.
Non-Sexual Abuse
For cases involving non-sexual abuse, such as physical harm, emotional abuse, or neglect, the statute of limitations is generally three years from the date the injury occurred. There are, however, some key exceptions here as well:
- If the victim is under 18 at the time of the abuse, the statute of limitations is tolled until they reach the age of majority. This typically means they have until their 21st birthday to file a claim.
- In certain circumstances, when the injury or its connection to abuse isn’t immediately apparent, the statute of limitations may begin from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Some injuries, like PTSD, may only become known or receive a proper diagnosis years after abuse took place.
When you or someone you know suffers abuse as a ward of the state or while in a foster or group home, it’s important to talk to an attorney, no matter how long ago the mistreatment took place. There are numerous exceptions to the standard statute of limitations in cases involving childhood abuse. Talking to a Washington foster care abuse lawyer as soon as possible helps ensure your right to seek justice is preserved.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Foster Care Abuse in Washington?
Multiple parties may share responsibility when abuse occurs in the foster care system. Liability may even extend beyond the actual abuser to include those who knew (or should have known) about the abuse but failed to do anything to stop it.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Foster parents who inflict abuse or neglect the children in their care.
- Caseworkers or social workers who fail to report or investigate complaints.
- Private foster care agencies contracted by the state.
- Medical or mental health professionals who ignore signs of abuse.
- The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families when systemic negligence or policy violations contribute to harm.
At Fuller & Fuller, our Washington foster care abuse lawyers are thorough in their investigations. We work to uncover all instances of abuse and identify all liable and negligent parties, enabling us to hold them responsible and seek the fair and full compensation survivors deserve.
Talking to a Washington Foster Care Abuse Lawyer
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse in the foster care system, speaking with a lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take. Survivors can carry the weight of what happened, often for life, before they’re ready to talk, but when that moment comes, it’s important to have someone in your corner who understands what you’re facing and knows how to help.
Foster care abuse cases are different. Oftentimes, they’re not just against a single predator, they’re against entire agencies, systems, and institutes that turned a blind eye. A foster care abuse attorney can help you expose what happened, identify who allowed it to continue, and demand accountability through legal action.
These cases may involve:
- Gathering medical records, therapy notes, and other evidence
- Interviewing witnesses and expert professionals
- Filing civil lawsuits against abusers and negligent organizations
- Seeking compensation for physical, emotional, and psychological harm
In these cases, the goal goes well beyond compensation. It’s about justice. People who harm children deserve no leniency. Nor do those who look the other way. Your lawyer can help you hold each to account for their actions.
Talking to a lawyer is private and confidential. You don’t have to have all the answers or proof in hand. You just need to talk. A good lawyer will listen, believe your experiences, and guide you toward the next best step.
Fuller & Fuller Is Here to Help
The Washington foster care abuse lawyers at Fuller & Fuller support survivors.
We know how difficult it is to speak up, especially when abuse happened at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect you. We are here to support you in your bravery.
We believe survivors deserve justice, and we know that justice requires action. We dig deep to truly understand how your experiences have impacted your life, and we never lose sight of what you have suffered. We will demand accountability from your abuser and help you secure the compensation you need to heal and move forward.
Fuller & Fuller is a family-run law firm with more than 50 years of service in Washington State. Led by accident and injury specialist Marya Fuller, we have the resources and experience to handle even the most complex foster care abuse cases—and the resolve to take these cases as far as needed to ensure justice is served.
Schedule a FREE and Confidential Case Review With a Washington Foster Care Abuse Lawyer
You don’t have to carry this alone. At Fuller & Fuller, we offer FREE and confidential consultations to survivors of foster care abuse and their families. We’ve spent decades holding wrongdoers accountable across Olympia, Tacoma, and surrounding areas of the state.
Contact us online or call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our Washington foster care abuse lawyers. Let us help you take the first step toward justice.
