Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is calling for an investigation into the state's Department of Children and Family Services. | State Rep. Batinick
Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is calling for an investigation into the state's Department of Children and Family Services. | State Rep. Batinick
Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is calling for an investigation into the state's Department of Children and Family Services.
"The health, safety and well-being of children in state care has to be a top priority. It's time to fully investigate the policies and leadership at DCFS to ensure our state's most vulnerable children are protected," Batinick wrote Tuesday in a Facebook post.
On Monday, protestors gathered in Illinois' Capitol to call for reform and accountability in the DCFS in the wake of children dying and the agency's director being held in contempt of court a dozen times, WIFR reports.
“They’re operating above the law,” Amanda Beyers, creator of a nonprofit organization that provides support for victims and survivors of DCFS, said to WIFR. “And we need to put a system in place where their wrongdoing and levels of corruption and illegal infringement are held accountable. There should be no child dying on their watch.”
Lawmakers questioned DCFS Director Marc Smith over the deaths and other issues that have plagued the department recently, CBS News reports. DCFS is responsible for about 20,000 children and operates with an annual budget of $1.5 billion. Nine children who were in the DCFS system have died since December 2021, and Smith has been issued 12 contempt of court citations so far in 2022.
Audits have uncovered that 48% of children who have been victims of abuse or neglect related to substance abuse didn't have their cases sent to state's attorneys for review. Out of all the children in DCFS's care, 88% are missing dental exams, 18% are missing physical exams, 14% have missed vision screenings and 56% have missed hearing screenings. Smith asserted that Pritzker continues to express confidence in his leadership.
After Smith's eighth contempt citation, CBS News asked Pritzker how many more times the director will be issued contempt citations before action is taken.
The governor replied, "You're ignoring all of the progress that's been made at DCFS, and so is the decision to hold the department in contempt. The head of the Department of Children and Family Services, and I, and the judge are frustrated with the challenges that we face for our most vulnerable children."
Pritzker appointed Smith as DCFS acting director in April 2019. The Illinois Senate confirmed the appointment in June 2021.
Alerts Sign-up