SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A 10-year-old boy with a history of fetal alcohol and drug syndrome, neglect, sexual abuse and mental illness was raped in March by another boy in a Salem foster home, a suit alleges.

The suit says state protective workers stipulated that the victim not be put in a foster home with other children, but he was placed with a family that had at least three other children.

The suit seeks $10.5 million and names as defendants an Oregon state agency, the nonprofit Catholic Community Services, and the foster parents, the Salem Statesman Journal reported.

The child is not identified, except by a pseudonym, in the suit.

The child's lawyer, James Shadduck of Salem, says authorities brought a criminal case in juvenile court against the 12-year-old attacker, also a foster child in state care because of abuse and neglect.

The suit said that, after the rape, the victim attempted to commit suicide.

"He had a lot of emotional issues before this because his mom was in prison for drug- and alcohol-related offenses and apparently there was sexual abuse early in his life," Shadduck said. "He wasn't exactly in the best of shape emotionally before this, and the events surrounding what happened have exacerbated it. He has a hard time communicating verbally."

The suit said state workers wanted him alone in a foster home because he was prone to lashing out, exposing himself and otherwise instigating instances in which he may create an environment that would invite sexual abuse and assault by other male children.

Shadduck said it appears the foster parents did not know about that requirement. "I think they still needed to maintain supervision and make sure the kid didn't get hurt and so forth," he said. "Those are different issues and responsibilities."

Officials at Catholic Community Services and the state attorney general's office declined to comment.

It's so sad to see yet another example of the underbelly of society. Sad situation!!

Truly Heart-breaking, but occurs more often than one can imagine

Seems there's a ton of people out there who are concern about "the unborn" but once children are born there are few people to support these kids.

I urge everyone to look into the numbers of children in your area who are in foster care. It's alarming. Children's services in most parts of the country deal with overwhelming caseloads.There are some good foster families out there but sadly many are just in it for the money and treat these children shamefully.

If this article offends you please do something. Consider taking in a child, get involved in a mentoring program, contribute or volunteer for CASA.

For those that do not know CASA http://www.nationalcasa.org/ is an organization that trains volunteers to be a child's advocate.

Sexually abused children in foster care often are fearful of what will happen to them if they report it. They have already lost their parents and in many cases their siblings.
Listen to their eyes.
You might see a child whispering for help, silently from within. They are conditioned to hide their pain.