Chicago City Wire

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) recently called out his opponent for how the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is being run.  

Bailey wants the DCFS director out and Gov. J.B. Pritzker not to be re-elected. The ineptness of both has caused children to receive improper care, according to the Xenia senator. 

"There are no excuses for the incompetence on display with how the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is being run," Bailey said. "Kids need to be placed in homes – not on office floors. It is getting out of hand. There have been 177 kids who have had to sleep on office floors because of the incompetence of the J.B. Pritzker Administration. His failings are hurting kids and it has to stop. It is time for J.B. Pritzker to be held accountable for the house of horrors - AKA the Department of Children and Family Services – he is running. The insanity in this Department is getting out of hand. It is beyond time for DCFS Director Marc Smith to go. The fact that he is still there is all of the evidence we need that J.B .Pritzker does not deserve a second term."

CBS Chicago reported that between January and May, 177 children under DCFS's watch had been residing in the agency's offices. Among them was a 5-year-old girl who needed to be placed in a specialized home because of her autism. However, she spent six nights sleeping at the department's office.

"This is a child who is in DCFS's care due to concerns about abuse and neglect; and what does DCFS say to the little girl? Here. Here's an office. Go sleep on the floor of this office,” Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert said, according to CBS Chicago.

Auditor General Frank Mautino's office found that DCFS “was unable to provide 192 of the 195 (98%) required Home Safety Checklists.” The checklist is one way to ensure that the home the children will return to or stay in is a safe environment for them.

Smith has been held in contempt of court for improperly holding a 14-year-old child in a mental health facility, CBS Chicago reported. In one instance, the child was moved around the system 21 times. The judge in that case ordered DCFS to pay a $1,000 day charge until the youngster received the necessary care. Despite the court's rulings, and Smith being held in contempt of court for 12 times in just a year, Pritzker has continued to support Smith.