As a result of a federal lawsuit settled yesterday, child welfare officials across the state are looking for grandparents, aunts, uncles and others caring for kin placed there by caseworkers.

For some, the lawsuit settlement means they will be able to get foster care payments to help support the abused or neglected youngsters.

"This settlement has been a long time in coming, but it hopefully will fix the problem of discrimination against kinship caregivers from this point forward," said Witold Walczak, legal director for the Greater Pittsburgh chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU and the Juvenile Law Center of Philadelphia filed suit five years ago on behalf of 12 relatives caring for children placed in their homes by child welfare agencies.

The relatives complained that the agencies refused to give them foster care payments because the children were kin. When agencies place abused or neglected children with strangers, the caregivers get foster payments to cover room and board costs.

State and federal law forbids financial discrimination against relative caretakers, but the ACLU said that it occurred across Pennsylvania anyway.

The state Department of Public Welfare agreed to settle the suit without acknowledging any wrongdoing, but it will make back payments to the plaintiffs.

We're pleased the case has been amicably resolved consistent with department policy," welfare department spokeswoman Stacey Ward said.