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* Tribune…
Illinois child welfare officials forfeited tens of millions of federal dollars in recent years by failing to process basic paperwork, state authorities told the Tribune this week.
After a monthslong bureaucratic effort fixed the lapses, $21.5 million in new federal dollars flowed to the Department of Children & Family Services for the current fiscal year, and $16.5 million is expected in the fiscal year that starts in July, acting Director George Sheldon said.
“My estimate is that just in the last two years we probably have lost out on about $40 million,” Sheldon said. “With the fiscal crisis that Illinois is in, I think it’s inexcusable.”
The problem came down to paperwork and is largely a consequence of having eight DCFS leaders in five years, Sheldon said. […]
The long fight to claim federal dollars for 18- to 21-year-olds has had unexpected benefits, Sheldon said. Last year, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office proposed eliminating extended foster care services for those older wards as part of sweeping budget cuts, but Sheldon said the additional money has made him optimistic that those services won’t be halted.
Good work.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
The Illinois Department of Children & Family Services is joining forces with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in a landmark mission to locate and save runaway state wards, who are particularly vulnerable to crime and trafficking.
As part of a two-year pilot project, the Sheriff’s Office and DCFS will combine resources to broaden the impact of an existing specialized Sheriff’s unit dedicated to recovering missing or runaway wards. Since its formation in October 2012, this Sheriff’s unit has made more than 520 juvenile rescues.
Pending County Board approval, the cross-agency unit will be comprised of seven sworn Sheriff’s officers with specialized training in juvenile justice as well as three DCFS child welfare specialists. The collaborative team, commanded by the Sheriff’s office, will be officially rebranded as the Child Rescue Unit (CRU). DCFS will fund four of the Sheriff’ Office positions within the Child Rescue Unit at a cost of about $400,000 a year.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:17 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** “We hope the Governor uses the magic soon”
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“Last year, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office proposed eliminating extended foster care services for those older wards as part of sweeping budget cuts, but Sheldon said the additional money has made him optimistic that those services won’t be halted.”
*****
Moral of the story to the Superstars- do your homework upfront this year before “crafting” the FY17 budget, OK? Remember??? http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-budget-dcfs-met-20150305-story.html
From the article: “Under Rauner’s plan, Illinois would lose millions in federal match dollars aimed at helping this population. And, research shows, youth who age out without a family or other safety net face significant risk of homelessness, joblessness, welfare dependency and imprisonment.”
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:33 am
Hearing good things about the new DCFS guy. Interesting to see he’s teamed up with Tom Dart, who was often very critical of DCFS during the Quinn administration.
Comment by Tomorrow Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:36 am
I wonder if PQ talks about DCFS under his watch on his reunion tour and push to be the dem nominee in 2018. Another tally on why the IL Dem Party needs a new face.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:50 am
Sounds like good governing in action has replaced chaos. Anyone want to give Governor Rauner some credit for appointing George Sheldon to this position?
No?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:51 am
Title should read “One of many consequences of bad management”
Comment by Qui Tam Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:52 am
The good news is, Rauner has found some of the waste and mis-management he was campaigning against. The bad news is, he is 1/2 of 1% the way towards plugging that budget hole.
Comment by Century Club Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:56 am
Met the new Director once. More impressive than most of his predecessors. Hope he sticks around. That place could use some continuity.
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:01 am
Obviously, Quinn wasn’t a manager. A blind man could see that. He wasn’t a reactionary zealot, either.
I’m all for the Rauner Administration concentrating on the management aspects of the executive office, rather than screwing around as super-legislators, sabotaging core state functions in pursuit of a reactionary legislative agenda for which they can’t demonstrate any benefits.
The job is chief executive. No one else has that responsibility. Do that well, and good things happen.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:03 am
-Tomorrow-,
I’ve heard the same thing. Hopefully he’ll be around long enough to finish the job of restoring the agency.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:04 am
This is the kind of thing I was hoping for from a Governor Rauner. Good management also show support for the front line staff, who are so important, and nearly all of whom are really dedicated.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:14 am
Speaking about bad management causing a waste of money - Donna Arduin has resurfaced. She’s an Illinois Policy Institute senior fellow. The IPI propaganda network keeps growing - nice to have money.
Time to buy more Powerball tickets.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:23 am
Sounds like good governing in action has replaced chaos. Anyone want to give Governor Rauner some credit for appointing George Sheldon to this position?
No?
I will Louis G. Atsaves. The Rauner admin. has made some solid agency appointments.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:27 am
This is the real irony of Rauner’s first year in office. The bar he had to clear was just having management. He has actually hired some competent people and they are making positive changes. But we never hear about any of that because of his mismanaged / misplaced Turnaround crusade.
That is the legacy of Rauner’s wasted first year … corners of improvement overshadowed by major foot in mouth missteps.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:36 am
=== He has actually hired some competent people and they are making positive changes. But we never hear about any of that because of his mismanaged / misplaced Turnaround crusade. ===
Yes, he did make some good appointments. Many with experience from previous GOP Gov administrations. Now, wouldn’t it be nice if they could run their agencies with a real honest to goodness budget.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:46 am
Also been hearing of competent management appointed by Rauner across many state agencies, and some smart moves to better use available resources.
RNUG hit it. These have been overwhelmed by the budget and turnaround agenda disasters.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 10:54 am
==failing to process basic paperwork==
This is stunning incompetence.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 11:48 am
So, will the acting director ever become the actual director? That would seem to be a step toward stability at DCFS.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 12:16 pm
Oddly enough, he was confirmed by the Senate today.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 1:51 pm
STaff at DCFS had been pushing for these extra dollars for years…constantly reminding ALL of the directors AND the deputies. Guess who has not been fired? For the most part, ALL of the previous deputies are still here. Silo’s abound. Sheldon seems to be doing okay, but does not seemed concerned about day-to-day operation. The deputies are responsible….they need to go.
Comment by LongTimer Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 4:19 pm