* Sun-Times…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday named Heidi Mueller — a child welfare and juvenile justice expert — as head of the state’s embattled Department of Children and Family Services.

Mueller, who has served as director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice since 2016, was selected after a national search. She will take the reins of the scandal-plagued agency beginning February 1, according to the governor’s office.

Mueller will become the agency’s 13th director, either acting or interim, in 14 years. Since 1964, DCFS has had 29 directors. […]

“The work Director Mueller has done at the Department of Juvenile Justice over the last several years has been transformative for the juvenile justice system in Illinois, and I am thrilled that she will bring her unique experience and talents to DCFS,” Pritzker said in a statement.

* Tribune…

Mueller said in a statement that during her time with the juvenile justice department she “witnessed firsthand the critical importance of a strong and supportive safety net for our state’s most vulnerable residents, and the tragedy that results when there are holes in that net.”

Mueller, whose appointment must be confirmed by the Illinois Senate, will take over an agency that has been the frequent target of criticism by Pritzker’s political foes as well as some of his fellow Democrats throughout his nearly five years in office. […]

Smith announced his resignation shortly after the state’s auditor general issued a scathing report on DCFS that cited numerous problems including significant delays in reporting abuse and neglect to local prosecutors, other state agencies and school officials.

Two more reports critical of the agency were released late last month. One of those found that in 1,009 instances, children who were supposed to be in short-term placements with the agency instead languished in places such as locked psychiatric hospitals, jails, out-of-state facilities or hospital emergency rooms for extended periods of time during the fiscal year ending last June 30. That was a slight increase from the previous year, the report said.

* State Journal-Register…

DCFS released its annual “Youth in Care Awaiting Placement Report” to the General Assembly on Friday. The report showed 1,009 state wards were in emergency placements for more than 30 days, housed in psychiatric units beyond medical necessity, stayed in hospital emergency rooms for more than 24 hours, held in juvenile detention facilities after their scheduled release dates, or placed in out-of-state treatment facilities.

In 330 cases, involving 296 children, DCFS forced children in state care, some as young as four years old, to remain in a locked psychiatric hospital after they were cleared for discharge. The report stated that more than 40 percent of these children were held in locked psychiatric hospitals for more than three months.

* More…

* WGN | Gov. Pritzker announces next director of DCFS: “The work Director Mueller has done at the Department of Juvenile Justice over the last several years has been transformative for the juvenile justice system in Illinois, and I am thrilled that she will bring her unique experience and talents to DCFS,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Heidi’s care and compassion for the most at-risk young people in our state and her exceptional leadership are hallmarks of her career, and I know that her passion and expertise will be a significant asset as we continue to improve our state’s child welfare system.”

* Capitol News Illinois | Governor names new DCFS director: Heidi Dahlenberg, legal director of the ACLU of Illinois and the lead attorney in a lawsuit against DCFS that has been ongoing since 1988, said Mueller takes over at a “crucial moment” marked by a need for placing youth in proper settings. “DCFS also must provide services to meet children’s individual needs and turn away from the use of large impersonal, institutional settings. This is a challenging job that requires a leader with vision and a commitment to transformational change,” Dahlenberg said.

* WTTW | Pritzker Picks Illinois’ Juvenile Justice Head to Lead Troubled DCFS: “Throughout her 10 years at the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, Director Mueller has demonstrated an abiding commitment to addressing the root causes driving young people into the justice system,” ICOY’s CEO Andrea Durbin said. “Director Mueller understands the importance of investing in young people, their families, and communities so they can thrive.”

* WBEZ | What’s happening at Illinois’ DCFS?: In this episode, WBEZ’s Alex Degman looks back at the start of the agency’s issues and examines the conditions that led Marc Smith, the longest-serving director in recent memory, to resign last month. “Leadership was steady, funding was increasing, but the outcomes weren’t there,” Degman said of Smith’s tenure. “And I think that’s what people are gonna remember.” We also take a look at the background of the new director, Heidi Mueller, who’s set to start Feb. 1.

* CBS Chicago | Gov. JB Pritzker names Heidi Mueller as next Illinois DCFS director; Marc Smith staying an extra month: Smith announced in early October that he would be stepping down from DCFS at the end of 2023, but Pritzker’s office confirmed Wednesday he will stay on until the end of January to ensure a smooth transition before Mueller replaces him effective Feb. 1.

* WGN | DCFS still failing to find appropriate care for kids, leaving them locked-up, report shows: Newly released numbers show 296 kids were locked in psychiatric hospitals longer than medically necessary in the past fiscal year. DCFS also revealed 45 youth were in juvenile jails beyond their release dates. Both circumstances continue to occur due to a shortage of appropriate shelter space and foster care options, especially for kids with severe psychiatric or behavioral issues.