McHenry Times

State Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) is proposing changes to the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) after several high-profile problems in the agency. 

Weber recalled the case of AJ Freund, a McHenry County boy.

“Despite several previous interactions between the family and DCFS, little AJ died because the agency suffers from systemic problems that need to be addressed,” Weber said at a press conference. "And not only by throwing more money at it. In the governor's last budget, DCFS funding rose to $1.5 billion. However, the inspector general's report released in January showed an alarming 40 percent increase in the deaths of children who had prior contact with DCFS. 171 children died in 2022. That's 49 more than in 2021. That, my friends, is disturbing.” 

“Children at risk of abuse are the very definition of our most vulnerable people, and yet they are being failed in the worst possible way. Protecting vulnerable children is not and should not be a partisan issue," Weber said. "Protecting them is our most basic responsibility. I have spoken with many legislators on both sides of the aisle and we all agree something needs to be done. I and many other legislators have filed legislation in the past only to have stalled. But we can and we must do better. I hope this working group may be a pathway for our caucus to fine-tune it and bring forward reform proposals that can win bipartisan support from our colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle. It's been nearly four years since Little A.J. His life was taken away. But I will not stop fighting for him and every other child in this state until we can do better. Failure is not an option.”

Investigators said Freund was beaten to death with a detachable showerhead. Freund’s mother and father, JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr, were convicted of their son’s murder. AJ Freund was 5 years old. Freund Sr. is serving 30 years in prison. Cunningham was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2021 but has since sought clemency based on mental illness, Chicago Tribune reported.

AJ Freund’s case was known to DCFS prior to his death, according to CBS News Chicago. Three DCFS caseworkers were criminally charged for not properly handling complaints regarding AJ Freund’s welfare.

DCFS’s track record is a poor one with a number of high-profile child deaths in its care. Following an investigation, the Frank Mautino Auditor General's Office discovered that DCFS “was unable to provide 192 of the 195 (98%) required Home Safety Checklists,” McHenry Times previously reported. “Additionally, according to DCFS’ website, Home Safety Checklists had still not been updated with required new language as of March 16, 2022,” the audit reads. 

DCFS Director Marc Smith has been found in contempt of court over a dozen times for refusing to answer in court to alleged mistreatment of children in the system, Illinois Policy reported.