McHenry Times

Steven Reick, House Rep. of Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly, expressed his frustration and disappointment with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in a statement on Sep 29th. Reick has been working for the past five years to address the issues within the department.

In an audit conducted by the Illinois auditor general, an adverse opinion was issued regarding the DCFS's compliance with specified requirements. Reick, who used to be an auditor, explained that an adverse opinion is the worst thing that can be said by an auditor about any entity. It indicates that there are material and pervasive misstatements and suggests that the agency has been dishonest. Reick emphasized that this is concerning because it involves an agency responsible for the welfare of abused and neglected children.

The audit report revealed numerous failures within the DCFS. There were 33 separate findings, including 17 Category 1 findings that disclosed material weaknesses in internal control or non-compliance with state laws and regulations. Some examples mentioned by Reick include significant delays in investigating suspected abuse or neglect of children in hospitals, late notifications of sexual abuse to schools, and inadequate employee evaluations.

Reick highlighted the lack of resources and constant excuses provided by the agency as unacceptable. He emphasized that these excuses are not reasons and criticized the agency for not following through on recommendations made in the audit. Reick has been advocating for reform within the DCFS since 2019 and has been working with the agency to address its shortcomings.

The findings of the audit deeply disappointed Reick, describing them as a "slap in the face" to everyone who has worked hard to understand the issues within the agency and find solutions. Reick held Governor J.B. Pritzker responsible for the failures of the DCFS, stating that the years covered by the audit fall entirely within his administration. Reick criticized the governor for blaming previous administrations and urged him to take responsibility for the agency's incompetence.

Reick concluded his statement by stating that if the agency continues to refuse to work with lawmakers, he will not remain silent about the shortcomings of the DCFS. He emphasized that both Republicans and Democrats agree on the need for reform.

In addition to Reick's concerns, the audit report also revealed that the DCFS had misrepresented millions of dollars in funds and failed to properly maintain segregation of duty regarding access to important information. Furthermore, the number of children who died while in DCFS custody in 2022 was nearly 50 more than in the previous year.

Steven Reick, a Republican, was first elected to the Illinois House in 2016 and has been actively involved in legislative committees. The audit findings highlight the urgent need for the DCFS to address its deficiencies and prioritize the protection of vulnerable children under its care.