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* WICS TV looked at the past five years of DCFS inspector general reports…
We found 35 employees had actions taken against them for either falsifying information or falsely testifying in court.
After digging through the Inspector General reports from the last five years, this is what I found.
In fiscal year (FY) 2018, the inspector general found 6 employees had either falsified case notes or provided false testimony in court.
In FY 2017, there were 6 employees.
In FY 2016, there were 10 employees.
In FY 2015, there were 6 employees.
In FY 2014, There were 7 employees.The employees included DCFS investigators and caseworkers and private agency caseworkers.
The article goes on to quote some folks who say the extreme pressures from under-staffing is so intense that it may have something to do with the falsifications.
I don’t know whether or not that’s true, but the governor was in Decatur today and said the agency is in the process of vetting potential new caseworkers before the new budget is even in place so they can start right away when the new fiscal year begins. The governor has proposed hiring 126 new DCFS caseworkers in FY20.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:32 pm
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===The governor has proposed hiring 126 new DCFS caseworkers in FY20===
Look at that, someone that understands you have to improve resources to improve results.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:38 pm
The headline is wrong. These weren’t all DCFS employees; the middle of the article says
“The employees included DCFS investigators and caseworkers and private agency caseworkers.”
Comment by Stuff Happens Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:45 pm
===The headline is wrong===
Yep. You’re right. Changed it.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:48 pm
Anon at 1:38—126 new employees at $50K totals $6.3 million annually.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:03 pm
” extreme pressures from under-staffing” no excuse for lying on reports or in court. Only 35 in five years tell me that these are the bad apples and need to be removed from an otherwise amazing agency that is vital to our state.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:18 pm
Would like to know the starting numbers in the relevant categories. Are we adding 126 to 200 or 3,000?
With benefits, the cost per capita is probably closer to $70,000. There is no mention of any related costs. Are these filling front line roles with no need to add support staff?
Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:23 pm
Donnie Elgin is right. This handful of people misbehaved, while the vast majority did not. And misreporting by the very few goes way back before the current understaffing. Anyone remember the DCFS employee who reported she had visited 3 kids, who were doing fine, a couple of days after they had been killed in a fire? She was fired and sued for reinstatement because DCFS took to long to bring disciplinary action against her. It got all the way to the IL Supreme Court in 1996, which said that it didn’t care that the rules had been broken in firing her, her firing was proper.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:36 pm
What were the penalties for the 35?
Comment by GADawg Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 2:48 pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t there an incentive system in place where DCFS case workers could earn gift cards to close cases?
Comment by Xavier Woods Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 4:32 pm
I have been speaking with a few colleagues who are equally upset about the DCFS situation. A new Director and more case workers are going to help. Chapin Hall’s study will help. But new approaches to the complex problems are needed.
We are in the early stage of brainstorming how we may be able to help and, more critically, find ways for others to apply their expertise.
I will throw out a few brainstormed ideas that have not been vetted for the complexity of the issue and the legal issues. One is using tele-medicine approaches to improve the remote monitoring of high risk cases. A second is using GPS technology to improve the routing and tracking of site visits by case workers. (Chicago does this for building and health inspectors.) Beyond technology, there should be ways for people to provide support by sponsoring a child’s membership in the Y or similar club. I’m not sure how this will all play out, but I’m hopeful about the potential.
Comment by Don Davis Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 5:00 pm
https://m.facebook.com/groups/602533906750488?view=permalink&id=756190351384842
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 8:08 pm