NEW YORK, NY July 18, 2006 —After several years of legal wrangling, the state of New Jersey has finally reached a settlement with the advocacy group that went to court to force reforms at the state's troubled child welfare agency. WNYC's Bob Hennely has more.

Under the terms of the settlement New Jersey will have four years to accomplish its' plans to makeover an agency that lost credibility when several children in its care were abused and even murdered.

Children's Rights Inc. had sued the state back in 1999 and in 2OO3 they entered a consent decree with the state. But the pace of reform appeared to drop off and Children's Rights Inc went back to court to force a possible takeover by a Federal Judge. Earlier this year, the governor's office created a separate cabinet level agency for child welfare, helping pave the way for today's agreement.

The state has seen a 2O percent increase in the number of calls reporting possible child abuse cases from last year.