<p>A former foster child sued Illinois' child welfare agency this week alleging a pattern of sexual abuse at a South Side shelter.</p><p>Lawyers for Yadira Escamilla, a former resident of Aunt Martha’s shelter on the South Side, announced the lawsuit Thursday during a news conference Downtown. They argued the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2024/09/20/dcfs-aunt-marthas-health-wellness-aalert-security-services-antonio-hopkins-trulon-henry-marc-smith-heidi-mueller-renardo-johnson" target="_blank" >state failed to protect vulnerable children</a> despite numerous reports of misconduct at the facility.</p><p>Escamilla, who is now 20, didn't attend the news conference. But one of her lawyers, Margaret Battersby Black, read a statement from Escamilla, who insisted that it's the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' "job to protect us."</p><p>“What hurts the most is that DCFS knew what was going on, and they didn’t stop it or take steps to protect us," Escamilla said in the statement.</p><p>The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the Illinois Court of Claims, seeks millions of dollars in damages from DCFS, Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center and A-Alert Security Services, Inc.