INDIANAPOLIS – A child advocacy group is praising a federal judge’s decision that allows most of a lawsuit to move forward.

That suit accuses Indiana’s child welfare agency of inadequately protecting thousands of children in its care.

The suit alleges that Indiana Department of Child Services doesn’t protect 22,000 children with open child welfare cases, including more than 14,000 in out-of-home care.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Young’s ruling allows two of three counts to go forward in the lawsuit, which was filed last July.