Mississippi has been given more time to improve its child welfare system as part of a deal presented to a federal judge Tuesday. In exchange for more time, state officials agreed to try to reduce the number of children in state custody who are being cared for by unlicensed foster parents, the Associated Press reported.

It’s the latest development in an ongoing federal lawsuit. Despite a series of settlements that promised reforms, the state has repeatedly failed to meet its targets, AP reported.

Abused and neglected children are among the most vulnerable people. Their parents, the very individuals they trust to love and protect them, are often their abusers. They are often too young to seek help or report their abuse. They depend entirely upon a state system that has failed them.

Though lawmakers have provided an extra $34 million in funding and created a freestanding Department of Family and Children’s Services, the efforts may be too little, too late.

David Chandler, who currently runs the children’s division of the Department of Human Services, said his agency needs time to use this new funding to increase pay and hire more social workers once the new budget year begins July 1, AP reported.

“It gives us a period of time to demonstrate to the court, now that the Legislature has provided us with the funding, that we put the hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars to use meeting the needs of the children of the state,” Chandler said.

If a progress report in July is unsatisfactory, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit may request a federal takeover of the system. It’s hard to see how significant change will come by July.

Tuesday’s agreement is aimed at reducing the number of children in the care of unlicensed foster parents. Chandler told the AP he didn’t immediately know how many foster children are in that category.

The state will continue to fight a takeover of the system, but is that what’s best for the children? The lawsuit is now 12 years old, and the state’s system is still riddled with problems. A takeover might be what is needed to ensure that the state’s abused and neglected children are adequately cared for.