Illinois’ long-troubled child welfare agency under Gov. J.B. Pritzker has failed to ensure adequate care for children in its charge and has not properly tracked cases referred to it by people who are legally required to report suspicions of abuse or neglect, according to a newly released audit of the agency.
The audit of the Department of Children and Family Services found failures to conduct required home safety checks before children are returned to their parents; to provide follow-up services for the required six months after a child leaves the agency’s care; and to make sure children in DCFS care are receiving appropriate medical checkups and immunizations, according to Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino’s report.
Advertisement
The audit also found that the agency’s records system is unable to track or identify service referrals that fall under a recent state law requiring DCFS to treat a report of abuse or neglect as a referral for services when it is made by a legally mandated reporter, such as a teacher, and there is a documented prior case of abuse or neglect or an open investigation involving anyone in the household.
Pritzker, seeking reelection in November, has vowed throughout his term to address long-standing issues at beleaguered DCFS. While he has boosted funding for the agency by at least $100 million per year since taking office, including a $250 million increase during the budget year that begins July 1, DCFS continues to struggle with a host of problems, many of which stretch back decades.
Advertisement
The Democratic governor also has stood by his hand-picked director, Marc Smith, even as Smith has been held in contempt of court nine times in recent months for the agency’s failure to find suitable placements for children in its care.
Pritzker has argued that it will take both more resources and more time to turn DCFS around.
The safety of the agency’s workers also has come under scrutiny after DCFS investigator Deidre Silas was stabbed to death in January during a home visit near Springfield.
Earlier this year, Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office represents more than 7,000 children involved in the child welfare system, told the Tribune the agency is “is in the worst shape it’s been in 30 years.”
The state auditor general’s review of DCFS comes a week after the office issued report blasted the Pritzker administration for its handling of a deadly coronavirus outbreak at a state-run veterans home in LaSalle that killed 36 residents.
More to come.
dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
cspaulding@chicagotribune.com
