The class action known as Katie A. v. Bonta was filed in July 2002. It challenges California's failure to provide home-based and community-based mental health services to children who are in the foster care system or at risk of removal from their families. Of special concern is California's practice of confining children with mental health needs in hospitals and large group homes instead of providing services that would enable them to stay in their own homes and communities.

In 2003, Los Angeles County settled its portion of the lawsuit, agreeing to close the notorious MacLaren Children's Center and develop appropriate services in the community. However, an expert panel found in August 2005 that the county had not yet even developed a plan to provide community services to the 50,000 children in its foster care system--the nation's largest. In an effort to refocus the county's efforts, lawyers for the children asked the district judge to compel the county to comply with the settlement agreement.

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