Much of the mismanagement and failures of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) were laid out last week in the Auditor General’s FY22 Performance Audit. The troubled agency, whose director has been ruled in contempt of court nine times just this year for failing to properly place children in appropriate care, has long been under scrutiny for its ability to keep the state’s most vulnerable safe and protected.
The report outlines a list of upsetting findings including DCFS’s negligence in ensuring that children in its care are receiving their well-child visits and check-ups. Of the cases tested, nearly 20 percent of children were missing at least one physical examination.
Additionally, the report found that DCFS lacked major control over the Home Safety Checklists and lacked required documentation for families involved in after-service care.
Senator Plummer says the issues with the Department are a disappointment from the top down, and Governor JB Pritzker needs to prioritize getting the agency turned around in order to do right by the many vulnerable children who are relying on the state government for care.