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Today’s number: 8

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Illinois

Laquan McDonald, the teenager shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer in October 2014, was one of eight wards of the state killed in street homicides last year, according to a newly released report by the watchdog of Illinois’ child welfare system. That number is more than twice as many as in any other year of the past five.

Denise Kane, the inspector general of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services, singled out the eight wards killed in street homicides in her latest annual report. She found that in the same time period the previous year, three wards were killed in street homicides.

Kane’s report says wards killed in the state’s 2015 fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, were teenagers, with the youngest being 14. In Illinois, wards can age out of the child welfare system at age 21. […]

In a statement, Andrew Flach, a spokesman for DCFS, wrote, “The Department is aware and concerned any time a child in the care of the state dies. However, the statistic should serve as a reminder that children in the care of the state are no more or less immune to the increased threat of street violence than any other child in the state.”

That statement appears a bit heartless, no?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:49 am

Comments

“That statement appears a bit heartless, no?”

It was, at best, tin-eared.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:54 am
Flach is a Rauner guy placed at DCFS.

Comment by Pawn Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:58 am
The administration of that agency has only cares in so far as whether they can be found liable…

Comment by There is power in a union... Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:00 am
*The administration of that agency only cares in so far as whether they can be found liable…

Wish we could edit posts. My apologies for the typo.

Comment by There is power in a union... Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:01 am
–However, the statistic should serve as a reminder that children in the care of the state are no more or less immune to the increased threat of street violence than any other child in the state.”–

I’m guessing that statistic shows that the universe of children in the care of the state have a much higher probability of dying in the street than other children in the state.

Simple math. How many children are wards of the state and how many of them were victims of homicide last year versus the total number of children in the state and the total number of children who were victims of homicide last year.

If Mr. Flach (woof, what a name, considering…) has some data to support his contention, he should share.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:04 am
In other words: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Comment by Politix Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:06 am
Reality can be heartless. He could have used different words, but the reality is that murders are up in Chicago and many innocent people have been killed far too early.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:06 am
Rauner and Team are certainly earning their honey badger reputations…

Why they should care-

https://www.illinois.gov/dcfs/brighterfutures/independence/Pages/Understanding-Your-Rights-and-Responsibilities.aspx

But they don’t-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-budget-dcfs-met-20150305-story.html

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:06 am
Got to try to spin it as best they can …

DCFS has a lot of good people working for them but have suffered with inconsistent (to be polite) top management for many years. They seem to do the best they can with the limited resources they have.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:07 am
That statement has Schrimpf’s name all over it. Nice work, gentleman.

Comment by Politix Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:08 am
Just maybe Ms Kane works in a place that makes her appreciative of the value of having 2 parents to teach and train you. Be thankful… Tin eared would be not caring at all about a boy who got shot wandering down the street with a knife in his hand, addled with drugs, ripping radios out of cars. First thing we should do is attempt to increase the number of kids with two parents.

Comment by Matthew Vernau Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:09 am
*The administration of that agency only cares in so far as whether they can be found liable…

Spot on.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:25 am
Not only dangerous but the SuperStars appears to have made it twice as dangerous as that mope Quinn was able to accomplish. Hats Off!

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 12:00 pm
Rauner Blames Quinn for DCFS Child Deaths: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/chi-rauner-blames-quinn-for-dcfs-child-deaths-20141007-story.html

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 12:33 pm
Heartless? Well, you got to look at how this Rauner appointee, who’s main qualifications were a intern for Sen. Mark Kirk, landed on his feet making over a $100k a year at DCFS.

Never know the way Florida people are appearing @ DCFS there is a State fiscal crisis.

Sweet!

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 12:38 pm