The Act does not simply direct the Commonwealth to establish a foster care system that meets certain requirements. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 670, 671(a). Rather, it provides that a State must establish a child and family services plan, with certain requisite provisions, in order “to be eligible for [federal] payments.”

The Fourteenth Amendment does not afford Plaintiffs the rights they assert in Counts I Case 3:10-cv-30073-MAP Document 18 Filed 08/20/10 Page 1 of 3 2 and IV of their complaint, and the First and Ninth Amendments do not afford plaintiffs the rights that they claim have been violated in Count II. In addition, the federal statute that plaintiffs seek to enforce in Count III – the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act, 42 U.S.C. § 670, et seq. – does not give rise to a private right of action. This motion is supported by the accompanying Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Complaint, as well as the Affidavit of Virginia Peel, General Counsel for the Department of Children and Families.

Specifically, the Charlie H. Court reasoned: 42 U.S.C. § 622(b)(10)(B)(ii) provides, in relevant part, that “[e]ach plan for child welfare services under [42 U.S.C. § 622(a)] shall-provide assurances that the State-is operating, to the satisfaction of the Secretary-a case review system (as defined in section 675(5) of this title) for each child receiving foster care under the supervision of the State.” 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(16) provides, in relevant part, that “[i]n order for a State to be eligible for payments under [42 U.S.C. § 670], it shall have a plan approved by the Secretary which-provides for the development of a case plan (as defined in section 675(1) of this title) for each child receiving foster care maintenance payments under the State plan and provides for a case review system which meets the requirements described in section 675(5)(B) of this title with respect to each such child.” Finally, 42 U.S.C. § 675(1) and (5) define, in detail, “case plan” as used in 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(16) and “case review system” as used in 42 U.S.C. § 622(b)(10)(B)(ii).

2006) .......................................................................................72, 74 42 U.S.C. § 622(b)(10)(B)(ii) (2000).............................................................................................60 42 U.S.C. § 622(b)(15) (2006).......................................................................................................70 42 U.S.C. § 627 (1996) ..................................................................................................................49 42 U.S.C. § 629a(a)(1)(A) (2006)..................................................................................................72 Case 1:07-cv-00241-L-LDA Document 37 Filed 11/02/2007 Page 10 of 97 xi 42 U.S.C. § 629a(a)(7) (2006) .................................................................................................72–74 42 U.S.C. § 629a(a)(8) (2006) .................................................................................................72–74 42 U.S.C. §§ 670 et seq. (2006).....................................................................................................47 42 U.S.C. § 671(a) (2006)..............................................................................................................66 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(1) (2006) .........................................................................................................75 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(10) (2006) ...........................................................................................51, 79, 80 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(11) (2006) ...........................................................................................75, 79, 80 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(15) (2006) ...........................................................................................49, 50, 64 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(16) (2006) ............................................................................................... passim 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(22) (2006) ........................................