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* We talked about this yesterday…
Nearly 100 Illinois children who died within the last two years were involved with the state’s Department of Children and Family Services. That’s according to a recent Inspector General report. […]
Past Inspector General reports reveal the seemingly-high number to be average by comparison. Within the last 10 years, between 84 and 113 children have died while being supervised in some capacity by DCFS.
* But that’s not the most worrisome number, as Hannah Meisel points out today…
However, the number of children who died after a DCFS caseworker investigated a claim of abuse or neglect, but was not able to substantiate the claim, continued to rise in 2018, as in years past.
Thirty-seven children died after a caseworker had investigated either their parent, guardian, home or other situation related to the child but classified the complaint as “unfounded,” according to the report.
Oy.
* Also from Hannah’s report…
[Inspector General Meryl Paniak] pointed to a memo sent anonymously from the agency’s Joliet field office to Gov. JB Pritzker, Paniak, the agency’s former acting director, Beverly “BJ” Walker, several other administration officials and members of the Chicago news media describing a severe understaffing in the office.
The unsigned two-page letter, which is dated “February 2019,” describes the Joliet field office as in a “major crisis,” and says caseworkers who live within miles of the Joliet office are so “stressed and overwhelmed” with their jobs, they’ve found other jobs much further from their homes.
The letter says the Joliet office should have 30 child protection investigators, but in reality has “less than half” the staff needed.
“We are continuing to lose investigators weekly,” according to the letter. “This is a safety concern and unfair to the current staff.”
* This isn’t the first time the Joliet office has been in the news. From 2017…
As state child welfare investigators probed allegations of abuse in the Joliet Township home where 17-month-old Semaj Crosby would later be found dead, their supervisor was launching a contest that awarded $100 gift cards to the two workers who closed the most cases in a month, according to agency interviews and internal emails examined by the Tribune.
The 3rd place winner would get a $50 gift card.
Evidence of the Joliet office contest emerged as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services faces mounting criticism from state lawmakers that it is quickly closing abuse and neglect investigations even when basic information has not been gathered and children are left in harm’s way.
If you promote an atmosphere like this, then you can’t be surprised when more kids die every year after their cases were deemed unfounded.
…Adding… More from Hannah…
9/11) Another huge thing about DCFS: Since Gov. Blagojevich's first year in office, 2003, the agency has had 11 directors in 16 years. @GovPritzker is conducting a nationwide search for the next one. The names are below. 2 under Blago, 5 under Quinn, 4 under Rauner (some overlap) pic.twitter.com/Uf2WogjVLQ
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) February 26, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:40 am
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Oh that Bruce Rauner and his gift cards. Also, I sure hope that all these one off taxes to balance the budget proposed by our new governor will be enough to actually hire some more people to keep dead kids from being found under couches. This is definitely one of the most disgusting things I’ve read in a really long time. May God let these poor angel babies rest in peace
Comment by hot chocolate Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:44 am
This is a challenging and complex problem. I have defended adults improperly accused of abuse or neglect. Careers can be destroyed by false allegations I have defended DCFS workers who became the scapegoat for a horrible outcome when they had nothing to do with a case. I have seen abused and neglected children who needed services when money for services was scarce. To improve DCFS there needs to be a willingness to pay more for increased staffing levels and improved training and resources. It is not going to be solved by simply indicating more cases.
Comment by Carl Draper Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:08 am
Has to be paid for.
You want lower taxes or safer kids? Politics is about making priorities.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:17 am
This is so heartbreaking.
I wonder if people who call DCFS for trivial things ( you know who you are) even realize that they are taking workers away from important cases.
Comment by Mandated reporter Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:21 am
Probably worth noting that DCFS investigators follow a standardized protocol for investigating claims of abuse and neglect. If your beef is with the claims being “unfounded”, your beef lies with the protocol, not the investigators.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:30 am
The tragedy is that each new director brings in leadership that disrupts the daily work by focusing on initiatives that zap resources. Director Sheldon launched initiative sites that took time and resources away and disrupted work. Each site is to be unique, yet all do the same thing. They were able to hire directors quickly, while being understaffed elsewhere. Daily staff are terrified when a new Director starts as they just disrupt the work. Effort needs to be on hiring investigators and not on the next Directors pet projects.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:30 am
The implication is that driven by efforts to cut costs and reduce the number of kids in foster care, the department is pressuring frontline staff to close cases earlier than they should or err on the side of leaving cases undetermined.
It is not possible for the department to stay under the maximum caseload requirements with growing number of hotline calls unless they start closing cases faster, and at some point “faster” becomes “too fast,” but not until it is too late for some child.
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:41 am
–As state child welfare investigators probed allegations of abuse in the Joliet Township home where 17-month-old Semaj Crosby would later be found dead, their supervisor was launching a contest that awarded $100 gift cards to the two workers who closed the most cases in a month, according to agency interviews and internal emails examined by the Tribune.–
It’s like “The Wire,” when it was all about “clearances,” whether they were legit or not.
For those who love those simple solutions: you think it’s a good idea to lump DCFS in an across-the-board cut for every agency?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 11:02 am
@Carl Draper -
How do you define “improperly accused”?
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 11:39 am
I accept the challenge to look into DCFS for cuts. The gov. Knows my number
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:00 pm
–I accept the challenge to look into DCFS for cuts. The gov. Knows my number–
Perhaps this serious subject isn’t the place for you to indulge your childish and narcissistic need for attention. Grow up.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:15 pm
For the usual suspects here who bemoan additional taxes and spending, this is yet another example that current spending is inadequate and produces shameful results. Please remember this when you next post your nonsense about budget cuts. Not holding my breath, though.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:20 pm
BDD…I’d like to respond in a civil way to your comment, but it was so egregious that I’m having difficulty. These results are so bad that it takes a special person to think they can cut their way to improvements.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:38 pm
This is an area that any governor since 2000 could have shown leadership and fixed. However no one pays attention unless something bad happens. Caseworkers have been saying since blago they are short staff. Director has changed more than some people change underwear. They need to get quality staff and listen to the staff. Not start the next “new thing” and walk away. Hopefully this governor will show some leadership and correct the issue and soon.
Comment by Union thug Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:38 pm
@Union Thug -
The governor cannot fix it on his own.
He needs a budget with substantial new revenue.
Adjusted for inflation, the cuts in DCFS funding have been substantial.
As indicated earlier, if lawmakers balk at the governor’s revenue, there will be more cuts.
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 1:14 pm
==I accept the challenge to look into DCFS for cuts. ==
Nothing is stopping you from making suggestions now. The budget is online. Take a look and get back to us.
You generally have a cavalier attitude when it comes to cutting the budget. In this case I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you think you can cut the DCFS budget you are completely ignorant of the situation.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 1:55 pm
From an acquaintance at the Joliet office, the tardiness issue is about as bad as its ever been. I would start there. But i do understand that the 50 to 60 hour work weeks can be a drain, and i might have to take that into consideration. But its definetly a starter.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 4:20 pm