McHenry Times

Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) recently voiced his thoughts on Marc Smith, the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

“(An) audit found 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," Wilcox said. “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.”

Lawmakers recently grilled Smith over the deaths of children who had been under the watch of the DCFS, and other issues that have plagued the child welfare department. DCFS is responsible for around 20,000 children and operates with an annual budget of $1.5 billion.

Nine children who were under DCFS's watch have died since December, and Smith has been issued 12 contempt of court citations since the beginning of 2022. Most of the contempt citations are related to DCFS' failure to properly place children in its care, sometimes for months. Audits have uncovered other problems: of the children who have been victims of abuse or neglect related to substance abuse, 48% did not have their cases sent to state attorneys for review. 

Out of all the children in DCFS's care, 88% are missing dental exams, 18% are missing physical exams, 14% have missed vision screenings, and 56% have missed hearing screenings. Smith asserted that Pritzker continues to express confidence in his leadership.

Fox 32 Chicago reported gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) blamed his opponent, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, for the troubles at the agency.

"This is incompetence in tragic proportions,” Bailey said to FOX. “This is devastating. This is what people in the real world call a fireable offense — period.”

“Sometimes you have to be willing and able to drive a business model, drive a team, and drive a system in a direction while the waters are very choppy,” Smith said to KFVS 12.

After Smith’s eighth contempt citation, CBS News asked Pritzker how many more times Smith will be issued contempt citations before action is taken.

The governor replied, "You're ignoring all of the progress that's been made at DCFS, and so is the decision to hold the department in contempt. The head of Department of Children and family Services, and I, and the judge are frustrated with the challenges that we face for our most vulnerable children."

Smith added to KFVS 12 that he’s proud of the progress the agency made to its services.

Pritzker appointed Smith to the position of acting director of DCFS in April 2019. The Illinois Senate confirmed him as director in June 2021.