* Yesterday, we discussed a story about how 35 DCFS workers and contractors had falsified reports or falsely testified in court over the past five years. Gov. Pritzker was asked about the report today. He called their behavior “unacceptable” and added this…
These folks not only should not be there any more, there are cases in which we ought to consider prosecution if there’s a law that allows us to do that. And if there isn’t, we ought to be looking at those enhancements.
There may not be a criminal penalty for falsifying some of these agency reports, so a new law may be required.
* The ACLU also sent this over yesterday…
The public reporting that 35 investigators working for or on behalf of DCFS have been disciplined in recent years for falsifying reports and testimony is appalling. How could the Department fail to address its chronic failure to retain a sufficient workforce of investigators, and its inadequate supervisory practices, after uncovering such wrongdoing? The answer is that leadership has careened from one crisis to another rather than doing the hard work to fix its fundamentally broken practices.
The dishonest behavior of these 35 workers is but a symptom of a wider problem – an agency which has lost its focus on its core mission. The new director and new leadership have an opportunity to refocus the work of DCFS on providing safety, care, and desperately needed services for children. That cannot be accomplished with slogans, wishes, or good intentions.
There is a great need for re-establishing basic honesty and providing critical services for children in Illinois throughout DCFS. That hard work must begin as soon as possible. The lives of children who are the future of our state literally depend on DCFS succeeding at its core mission of caring for youth and families. We stand ready to work with the new leadership team to accomplish this goal.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
My question: Is AFSCME fighting any efforts to discipline these employees and will they fight against the Governor’s proposal?
- Perrid - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
The ACLU statement is a bit rich. The people hitting DCFS over the head are asking why DCFS is only focusing on the people hitting them over the head.
That being said, I have an open mind as to possible laws to stop workers from submitting false reports. We have to make clear allowances for mistakes made in good faith, but I can see some kind of hefty fine for actual lying.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:25 pm:
–These folks not only should not be there any more, there are cases in which we ought to consider prosecution if there’s a law that allows us to do that. And if there isn’t, we ought to be looking at those enhancements.–
Good spot for Pritzker to show his tough side.
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:28 pm:
Not against the proposal, but please consult career prosecutors (meaning more than one) to ensure the bill is drafted appropriately.
- illini - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
“… investigators working for or on behalf of DCFS”
This may be the big issue here. Were these 35 individuals actually employees or were they employees of private agencies that secured a contract with the State?
Small distinction perhaps, but the duplicity and deception is unacceptable regardless of the primary employer and prosecutions should be warranted.
- James McIntyre Fan - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
First, the ACLU got the report wrong. It was not “35 investigators.” Investigators are all DCFS staff, the numbers clearly involve private agency staff.
Secondly, the ACLU reminds me of the cop from Casablanca who is shocked to discover gambling going on. ACLU is the court-appointed monitor for DCFS. They are learning what is in the Inspector General reports from the news media instead of reading the reports themselves?
- Anon - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
It’s really not the line workers that are the problem in this instance. It’s unfortunate that they falsify reports, but that’s literally the natural response that we see when employees are placed in difficult situations with impossible goals or expectations and not being provided the resources to be able to carry out their mission.
A bunch of low level Wells Fargo employees fraudulently open accounts for Wells Fargo customers and our law makers hold the executives accountable.
If low level public employees are falsifying reports, maybe we should take a look at the middle and senior management and see what kind of work place culture they are creating and if they are creating a culture where one is expected to lie in order to meet a goal.
- Just Another Anon - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:43 pm:
Somehow don’t think the charges will stick in Cook County….
- RNUG - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
For the contractors, the State should be looking at the contracts and any penalty or claw-back clauses. Plus if there are any civil or criminal penalties to filing a false report.
For the state employees, the employees should be fired, prosecuted and, if convicted, their pensions could be stripped due to official misconduct.
- The Dude - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
Clearly a issue and it’s against the law for me to falsify a report so it better be for them too. Supervisors clearly are a problem too.
- Left Leaner - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:51 pm:
===It’s unfortunate that they falsify reports, but that’s literally the natural response that we see when employees are placed in difficult situations with impossible goals or expectations and not being provided the resources to be able to carry out their mission.===
I hope the Governor gives as much attention and energy to addressing the root causes of this behavior as he does to prosecuting those who did wrong.
Bring down caseloads (hire more staff), create the infrastructure for solid oversight and management, and provide training for staff, both front-line AND management.
- RNUG - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
== maybe we should take a look at the middle and senior management ==
I’ve been saying for several years the agency needs good, consistent management from the top … something it hasn’t had for quite some time.
I believe I also posted a rant a couple of years ago about the caseworkers having only so many minutes a year per case … and it was impossible to do a proper job with the available resources.
I don’t know what metrics they are using at DCFS, but it is clear they are the wrong ones. They need to totally redo the agency policies and procedures.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
False testimony under oath is the easiest to act upon. The testimony is on record and penalties are in the law.
False reports may be harder to act upon.
- Responsa - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 1:03 pm:
Ethics. I don’t care how overwhelmed and understaffed or underpaid they feel, people in all areas of employ are supposed to know that falsifying official records or lying on reports is a no-no. If it takes a new law to hit this home and to punish or fire or prosecute caseworkers and managers where vulnerable children are concerned so be it. But how sickening that such a law is necessary.
- GADawg - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
I asked before, but I still have not found an answer. Does anyone know what, if any, consequences these 35 faced? there was one reference I saw to suspension, but even it did not specify the length.
- Pessimistic - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 1:43 pm:
These 35 reports are only the ones we know about and were acted upon. I suspect the problem is more rampant than this limited, albeit disturbing, number. In an environment that has a large component of he-said-she-said, I’m pleased to see the administration is now taking this seriously.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 1:54 pm:
DCFS could use some organizational changes. It would help if AFSCME helped.
PSA’s should come out of the union. Or at least be in a different union as Police Sergeants are in Chicago.
Union people need to be fired for cause. But it needs to be easier to establish cause. The union can help with that.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
Even if they hire more people to work the cases, can they keep them? I hear that there is a high burn out rate among case workers.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
I would imagine that DCFS is already firing people
who are found to have falsified records and is pulling their licenses. If the governor believes there is undiscovered falsification going on, then the challenge is to find it. Perhaps he should start by having all staff and contractors sign a statement reiterating that they know falsification is a fireable offense resulting in loss of licensure.
True, there is no excuse for falsification of records, but is it clear that high workloads caused the falsification in all or most of the cases we know about.
Hiring 126 new caseworkers is fine, assuming caseloads are excessive, but I hope the governor realizes the problems faced by government child welfare systems are not caused by “bad workers,” but rather are largely systemic and connected to structural problems in the wider society. 126 caseworkers alone can’t change that.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 2:10 pm:
Being a caseworker is an intensely high-stress job; askin to being a teacher, cop, or corrections officer. You travel to dangerous situations to confront often dangerous people. Teachers get a season off to recuperate, cops and corrections officers are expected to retire relatively early. We intend to keep DCFS caseworkers on constant full time duty until they are 67. What do you expect besides burnout and high turnover?
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 2:54 pm:
It seems crazy we are going to prosecute workers for filing false reports but rarely if ever prosecute people who fail to report abuse in a system where we often do not prosecute the abusers.
Maybe a good starting point is a Class 4 felony for intentionally falsifying a report or failing to make a report as a mandated reporter if the falsification or failure results in serious harm to a child.
If someone falsifies a report but there was no harm, it seems best to handle as a straight-up employment/contract issue.
Keep in mind: this agency is probably about to be slapped with a civil suit that will force them out of foster care.
- Union thug - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 3:31 pm:
Last bull
From past experiences, when organisational changes are made AFSCME has been will to negotiate and solve any issues. If managment can show cause they can discipline as appropriate, even fire. If something needs to change to the discipline part of the contract, they should bring it to the table. We are in negotiations now. What AFSCME can’t and shouldn’t do is stop representing people. They have a legal obligation to represent.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 3:43 pm:
The common Admin. statement is to do more with less and the common reply no we will just do less. There is only so much you can do in a day and most state employees do what they can and then go home. The higher ups need to be more realistic in approach to mgt. and budget cuts. You reap what you sow.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 3:57 pm:
Union Thug- I don’t expect the new Director to know what he needs. I hope he can develop a good working relationship with the union. The union workers I knew were almost all dedicated to the mission.
Structurally, it does not work for supervisors to discipline workers in the same union.
Yes the union should represent its members. But it also needs to help the department identify and discipline bad workers.
- RNUG - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 5:09 pm:
== The common Admin. statement is to do more with less … be more realistic in approach to mgt. and budget cuts. ==
Reminds me of my boss’s boss giving assignments:
This is your number 1 priority, in addition to, not to interfere with all your other number 1 priorities.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 5:21 pm:
I saw a sign in the breakroom that said No job is too difficult for the person to doesn’t have to do it.
- Union thug - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 6:45 pm:
The union is not managment. If an employee if not doing the job or doing poorly managment needs to step up. When managment does the job problems get solved. Even if it is a “bad” employee.
I will say this. In my current job I talk to caseworkers all times of day and night 7 days a week. They take work home and on vacation with them. They are some of the most dedicated overworked people I have worked with. Get them some help for once.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 8:40 pm:
Management does have to do its job. From my perspective, when PSA’s are in the union, there are not enough managers to provide effective training and discipline.
For most employees, discipline is not an issue. They are going to do the best they can. They need leadership and training.
- Sad face - Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 8:50 pm:
I have seen DCFS workers in Southern Illinois try to take kids away from mothers and place with foster parents even after the mother completed the requirement counseling ordered by the courts. They have lied, try to set up the mother, never caring about the children. They are hateful, bitter employees and have no business being in that job classification. Judges even threatened to hold them in contempt and yet still these same state workers remain on the job. So very sad what CMS has allowed.